The Evolving Role of Chief Medical Officer in the C-Suite

A focus group involving eight CMOs was held last week in Miami by Navigant, a healthcare research organization. Navigant partnered with the American Association for Physician Leadership to interview the CMOs about how their role is changing within different venues: hospitals, medical groups, health insurers, and post-acute facilities.

Within the C-suite, CMOs see their roles expanding significantly. Conclusions drawn from the focus group include four key themes that are putting increased pressure on the role of CMOs:

Clinical transformation: Particularly in hospitals and medical groups, CMOs must work as an integral part of a team that is focused on reducing errors, increasing compliance with evidence-based medicine, reducing unnecessary care, and encouraging patients to take a more active role in their healthcare.

Physician engagement: While “rank and file physicians believe they should be left alone,” CMOs are increasingly required to engage doctors in areas such as team-based care, clinical integration, and clinical performance.

Provider-sponsored risk: With financial risks increasingly being shifted to providers, clinical decisions must be approached in a collaborative manner within “care teams” and with patients in order to reduce costs.

Super systems: CMOs must quickly adapt to the new environment where large health systems offer comprehensive services, health plans and even alternative health services.

To learn more about these trends and how they are impacting hospitals and other healthcare organizations, visit: http://www.naviganthrp.com/cmos-mvps/