SPOTLIGHT: Failure to engage doctors is hampering hospital quality efforts

Physician engagement is "critical" to improving hospital quality. Too bad doctors feel so overworked, underpaid and underappreciated that it's difficult for them to truly get behind their hospital's QI efforts, suggests a new study from the Center for Studying Health System Change.

"Recognizing that physicians are essential to hospitals' quality improvement efforts, it is unlikely that significant progress can be achieved unless physicians are more effectively integrated into the process," the authors write. "Because many physicians are spending less time in the hospital and are increasingly reticent about voluntarily giving their time to hospitals, finding effective strategies to engage physicians in QI activities will become even more important."

Some hospitals have found such successful strategies, including employing physicians; using credible data to encourage physician involvement; demonstrating visible commitment to quality improvement through hospital leadership; identifying and nurturing physician champions; and communicating the importance of physicians' contributions. Read the full report here