One of the biggest fallacies about a hospital-employed ED model is that if you want it to succeed, your hospital must either manage the ED autonomously or relinquish control to an outside group. That’s not the case. Many solutions exist to support and strengthen management of a hospital-employed ED.
To address that concern, we’re looking at four major challenges hospitals face when employing emergency medicine physicians. The first, already published, focused on the most common: recruitment. This week, we examine leadership and accountability.
As the leader of an especially unique department within the larger hospital ecosystem, ED medical directors can often feel — or operate — like an island. The question is: Whose headache is it? Answer: If you do nothing…everyone’s. Consider these options:
1. THE BIG, OBVIOUS (BUT TIME-CONSUMING) OPTION
Dedicate time for a member of hospital leadership to meet one-on-one with your ED medical director at least monthly.
The mission: To keep a finger on the pulse of the ED’s progress toward goals and identify and deliver the tools and support he or she needs to maintain a cohesive team and stable practice environment.
2. TOO BUSY? SEND ‘EM TO SCHOOL
ED-specific leadership training is a quick and impactful way to strengthen your ED medical director’s skills. Look for a course that covers ED-specific leadership skills, operations, and financial management techniques, strategic planning, and the latest in healthcare changes affecting the ED.
3. HANDS-ON MENTORSHIP
Back your medical director with ongoing, day-to-day leadership from a mentor who’s been there, done that — a board-certified EM physician with extensive management experience who can offer your ED medical director continuous support, expertise, and feedback.
For tips on mentoring an ED medical direct, please download our document here.
In the weeks ahead, we’ll explore the remaining two challenges you may be facing in your hospital-employed ED: performance management and documentation, as well as revenue. You’ll learn how to:
- Continuously monitor your ED’s operational and financial budget — without taxing yourself or your executive staff.
- Quickly determine if your ED’s RCM is leaving money on the table — and the fastest way to stop the bleeding.
