Characteristics of physician leaders working to improve the quality of care in acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
The influence of physician leaders on their colleagues in local medical communities has been recognized for several decades. However, the literature indicates that little is known about the specific characteristics of physician leaders involved in improving quality in today's hospital environment. A taxonomy of the characteristics of the physician quality leader from the perspective of physicians and nonphysicians was developed.


METHODS
Information about physician leaders working to improve acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was gathered from in-depth interviews with 45 key physicians and nursing, quality management, and administrative staff at eight hospitals. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis.


RESULTS
The physician leader characteristics were described in four main categories: personal commitment, professional credibility, quality improvement behaviors and skills, and institutional linkages. Each physician leader possessed different combinations of the characteristics from the four categories, revealing the complexity of the physician leader role.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the key characteristics of physician leaders is a critical step in helping hospitals choose and develop physician leaders who can effectively bring about meaningful quality improvement.
Holmboe
Eric S
ES
Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. eholmboe@wtbyhosp.chime.org
Bradley
Elizabeth H
EH
Mattera
Jennifer A
JA
Roumanis
Sarah A
SA
Radford
Martha J
MJ
Krumholz
Harlan M
HM
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006740:Hospital Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017749:Total Quality Management; D014481:United States
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists