Clinicians involved in developing strategies
12 Jun 2016By: Bahaa Wanly, Vice President, Salem Health Medical Group and Interim Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Ralph Yates, Chief Medical Officer
Physicians have consistently told us they want to be more involved in the decision-making process at Salem Health. Over the last several weeks we held nine clinician focus group sessions. In these, we have begun to develop strategies with physician input.
At the June 6, 2016, Quality Operations Committee (QOC), one agenda item was for committee members to help develop the “Retaining the Medical Staff Baby A3”. This is a more detailed level of strategy from the Physician Engagement A3. Components of the baby A3 include: actions from physician focus groups, promoting a team based culture, replicating Salem Health Medical Group (SHMG) successes and provider involvement. Small groups worked on providing input to those components of the baby A3.
Several themes emerged: provider recognition, including physicians in solving problems they bring forward and relationship building between physicians and operational leaders. Fun suggestions such as a picnic and Salem Health talent show were mentioned.
The next step for this work is Dr. Andy Furman, Vice-President of Medical Affairs will take this input to assist in developing the baby A3. We will reach out to clinicians to be involved in further developing and executing the strategy. The baby A3 will need to be fully developed by July 8.
Another venue that included physicians and operational leaders working together to develop strategic goals and tactics was at the June 7 SHMG leadership meeting. SHMG providers and operational leaders were introduced to three of the organizational strategies: Quality & Safety, Physician Engagement and Population Management.
The small groups brainstormed alignment to the strategies and began to take notes on how to draft their respective division A3s. Topics of antimicrobial stewardship, reducing readmissions and patient access to care were highlighted among the small groups.
Division directors Ross Hopkins, Dana Wehrli and Jenny Tomka will continue to work with their respective leadership teams on strategy development and another interactive session of the SHMG leadership group will be scheduled to continue dialog on strategic focus and actions.
We are deeply appreciative of the time each of the 68 clinicians gave in participating in these impactful focus groups. Your honesty and commitment to your patients and profession were most evident. We will keep you informed of initiatives addressing many of the concerns expressed and look forward to collaboratively working with each of you during this next year.
Salem Health Medical Group (SHMG) leadership session on June 7. Providers and operational leaders used the organizational strategies as a guide to develop strategies specific to the medical group areas of family practice, specialists and hospitalists.