Doctors and managers: a problem without a solution?

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7390.609

BMJ 2003;326:609-610 ( 22 March )

Editorials

Doctors and managers: a problem without a solution?

No, a constructive dialogue is emerging

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In preparing this theme issue on doctors and managers we were offered many sophisticated descriptions of the origin and natureof the tension between doctors and managers but fewer crediblesolutions. The fundamental problem is a paradox between callsfor a common set of values and the need to recognise that doctorsand managers do and should think differently. If managers suddenlybecame preoccupied with the needs of an individual patient, irrespectiveof the consequences for others or for their budget, then the healthsystem would collapse. If doctors decided that their principalconcern was to ensure the smooth running of the system and thedelivery of policy irrespective of the consequences for the patientin front of them, then both the quality of care and public supportwould collapse. Doctors worry about patient outcomes. Managersworry about patient experience (which includes outcomes, but onlyas part of a mix . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

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