Physician Leadership as a Crucial Component of a Drastically Changing Health Care System

Leadership is the activity of leading a group of people or an organization by establishing a clear vision; sharing that vision with others and inspiring them, providing the information, knowledge and methods to realize that vision; and coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders. In an era marked by a seismic change in the health care industry, leadership by physicians will be essential in leading the change and transition into new delivery and payment models. The absence of physicians being involved in this process will inevitably abdicate that role to others. This would be hugely problematic in what many would consider the largest change in health care delivery in the past 100 years. Consider the changes occurring in the health care industry: the shift from a volume-based system to a value-based system; the management of populations toward wellness; the financial payment models that build in rewards...