title: Physician empowerment programme; a unique workshop for physician-managers of community clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physician manager role in the health care system is invaluable as they serve as role models and quality setters. The requirements from physician managers have become more demanding and the role less prestigious; yet burnout and its prevention in this group have received little attention. Physician leadership development programmes have generally dealt directly with skill and knowledge acquisition. The aim of this research was to evaluate an intensive workshop designed to modify attitudes and improve skills of physician-managers of community clinics, through focus on personal well-being and empowerment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty six physicians affiliated with Clalit Health Services, the largest health maintenance organization in Israel, participated in 16 IMPACT courses during the years 2013-2015. The programme comprised five full days during a two-week period, including an overnight and follow-up meetings three and six weeks later. Theoretical knowledge, experiential learning, practical tools, deep personal exercises, and simulations were conveyed through individual and group work. Topics included: models of self-awareness, outcome thinking, determining a personal and organizational vision, and creating a personal approach to leadership. At the end of each course, and by email at 6 or more months after completion of the course, participants were asked to anonymously respond to closed questions (on a scale of 1-6) and an open question.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean scores for the contribution of IMPACT to participants' role of physician manager were 5.3 at the end of the course, and 4.7 at 6 or more months later. Mean scores at 6 or more months were 5.0 regarding the contribution of the programme to personal development, 4.4 regarding satisfaction in the role of physician manager, and 4.6 regarding their coping with managerial dilemmas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A workshop that focused on personal growth and self-awareness increased physicians' job satisfaction and their sense of managerial capability, coping with managerial dilemmas, and belonging to the organization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Development Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Yafit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maza
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Development Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shechter
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Development Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Neta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pur Eizenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Development Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Efrat Gortler
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Segev
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center, and the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion IIT, 7 Michal Street, Haifa, 34362, Israel. myf@tx.technion.ac.il.
authors.forename: Moshe Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Flugelman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008486:Physician Executives / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011209:Power, Psychological; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care
keywords: Faculty development; Medical education professionalism; Physician behaviour; Physician burnout; Physician empowerment