Doctors in leadership roles: consequences for quality and safety

Abstract

IMPACT In the English NHS and other healthcare systems (such as Belgium, Germany and Italy), there has been growing enthusiasm for increasing the involvement of clinical professionals in senior leadership and management roles. This article examines the performance benefits of this involvement for quality and safety outcomes—specifically patient experience and hospital infection rates. The findings have important implications for key stakeholders. For professional bodies, the results could help to assuage concerns about management and persuade more doctors to invest in leadership training and education. For managers, the findings suggest increasing support for clinical leadership roles and focusing more on succession and career planning at the organizational level. Lastly, for policy-makers, the results further reinforce the need to boost clinical leadership in healthcare services—both rhetorically and in terms of the allocation of resources.