The Physician as Manager

medical-legal affairs, automated systems, and THE PHYSICIAN AS MANAGER OFFERS public relations. PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTH PRO­ In the past, physicians relied on their clini­ FESSIONALS A PRACTICAL GUIDE­ cal competence and professional reputation to BOOK TO UNDERSTAND THE ECO­ NOMIC AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS build and maintain their practices. Although RELEV ANT TO MEDICAL PRACTICE. these attributes are still necessary, other issues such as accessibility, quality assurance, cost The changing patterns of medical practice have containment, and health maintenance are grow­ brought with them the need for physicians to ing in importance. Although many traditional­ have a basic understanding of management ists in medicine resist the pressure to become principles and their applications to medical competitive, physicians and other health pro­ practice and the health care field. As insurance fessionals now have the opportunity to design companies, health maintenance organizations, an innovative health care system. Industry and government agencies, and industry become ma­ government want to join forces with the medi­ jor influences on the delivery and financing of cal field to resolve the problem of unprece­ medical care, the once exclusive doctor-patient dented rising health care costs. If physicians are relationship is being modified by contractual to function at an executive level, they will need agreements with third-party payers. Physicians to expand their professional competency to in­ are no 10l!ger the sole authority in their field.