Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/170070
58 Executive Briefing: Physician Engagement 6. Claims reduction. One of the greatest sources of stress for health systems and physicians alike is the fear of being sued. Rarely does one get sued without the other. Dr. Dabbs says this stress can be alleviated with robust training in risk management which builds confidence in physicians as they do their work more efficiently and with less second-guessing. He says TeamHealth has a very comprehensive risk management program that is well-informed from the 10 million patients they care for each year. "We have a great database and can find trends through our accredited Patient Safety Organization. And if we find troublesome trends, we're able to provide feedback to physicians using evidence-based medicine, with decreased worry about being sued. I would suggest any hospital develop a quality improvement program that seeks to educate and support the physician, instead of seeking to reprimand and ostracize him or her." Hospitals' physician payrolls are huge expenses, which makes developing and retaining them all the more essential for a hospital to prevent incurring unneeded costs and weakening its clinical culture. n Physician Engagement: 20 Survey Findings By Molly Gamble A n annual survey that examines the level of physician engagement at U.S. hospitals has reported a slight decline in overall physician engagement levels. "The State of Staff Physician Engagement: 2011 in Review," the most recent data available, found that in 2011, physician engagement was 4.12 on a five-point scale, compared with the 2010 average of 4.17. A score of one denotes the a physician "strongly disagrees," while a score of five denotes the physician "strongly agrees" with a statement. Thus, the higher the score, the more positive the response. Information is based on an analysis of more than 1.4 million survey responses from physicians in 2011. Here are some key findings from the 2011 survey, including survey items physicians rated highest and lowest. 3. I would recommend this hospital to other physicians as a good place to practice medicine: 4.06 4. I would recommend this hospital to family and friends who need care: 4.24 5. I am satisfied with the overall performance of hospital administration: 3.54 6. This hospital treats physicians with respect: 3.83 12. This organization conducts business in an ethical manner: 4.24 13. This organization is respected in the community: 4.21 14. I have confidence that this organization will be successful in the coming years: 4.21 Lowest -scoring items from the survey 7. I have confidence this organization will be successful in the coming years: 4.21 15. I am satisfied with Ambulatory Services' efficiency: 3.09 8. If I am practicing medicine three years from now, I am confident that I will be practicing at this hospital: 3.94 16. I have adequate input into decision affecting my medical practice: 3.30 9. Overall, I am satisfied with this hospital: 4.05 17. Senior management is responsive to physician feedback: 3.37 Physician engagement Highest-scoring items from the survey 18. I am satisfied with the ease of the scheduling process for my patients: 3.43 1. This hospital makes every effort to deliver safe, error-free care to patients: 4.19 10. The nursing staff at this hospital is committed to providing compassionate care: 4.28 19. I can easily communicate my ideas and concerns to senior management: 3.46 2. Overall, this hospital provides high-quality care and service: 4.23 11. This organization cares about its customers: 4.27 20. The amount of job stress I feel is reasonable: 3.45 n TeamHealth is one of the largest suppliers of outsourced healthcare professional staffing and administrative services to hospitals and other healthcare groups in the United States. Founded by emergency physicians in 1979, TeamHealth remains a physician-led, patientfocused organization committed to strengthening hospitals, supporting physicians and improving healthcare through high-quality management, staffing and support services. TeamHealth's more than 5,600 affiliated healthcare professionals provide emergency medicine, hospital medicine, anesthesia and pediatric staffing and management services to more than 540 civilian and military hospitals, clinics, and physician groups in 45 states.