Importance of Clinical Leadership in the Hospital Setting

Importance of Clinical Leadership in the Hospital Setting

A review published in the Journal of Healthcare Leadership explores the concept of clinical leadership and its effect on patient care. The need for clinical leadership is ever-growing, as health care systems are expanding rapidly. The clinical level is the connection between the system and the patient and is where the patient develops their perceptions of the organization.¹ 

While no standard definition of clinical leadership exists, experts found that research defines leaders in the hospital setting to have a variety of characteristics. These include the ability to make changes, being vision and value driven, or being a leader in a specific situations.¹  It was also concluded that clinical leadership is not limited to those in superior position, but at any level of a healthcare team.

Researchers found in numerous studies that effective clinical leadership promotes quality improvement and safety. Because of these benefits, the costs of implementing formal training programs in hospitals may be less severe than the consequences of poor leadership. 

The challenge of hiring clinicians with leadership training to prevent the associated costs of formal programs is the lack of preparation for leadership roles in school and training. Even with previous training, the research suggests that barriers to exhibiting leadership behaviors are possible. Aside from poor training, clinicians may have a lack of confidence, lack of incentives to be a leader, or cynicism from other coworkers.¹ 

The information presented in this article highlights the importance of leadership training in the clinical setting. Often, it is assumed that those in managerial positions are the only ones capable of behaving in a leadership capacity. However the literature reviewed in this article shows the positive benefits of leadership training at all levels. For those in a managerial role, it is important to recognize these benefits in order to inspire their constituents and create a safe and effective healthcare environment. 

1. Daly J, Jackson D, Mannix J, Davidson PM, Hutchinson M. The importance of clinical leadership in the hospital setting. Journal of Healthcare Leadership. 2014; 2014(6): 75-83. doi:10.2147/JHL.S46161

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