Clinical leaders crossing boundaries: A study on the role of clinical leadership in crossing boundaries between specialties

Abstract

Background Due to the growing number of complex (multimorbid) patients, integrating and coordinating care across medical specialties around patient needs is an urgent theme in current health care. Clinical leadership plays an important role in stimulating coordination both within and between specialty groups, which results in better outcomes in terms of job satisfaction and quality of care. Purpose In this light, this study aims to understand the relation between physicians’ clinical leadership and outcomes, focusing on the sequential mediation of relationships and coordination with physicians within their own medical specialty group and from other specialties. Methodology A cross-sectional self-administered survey among physicians in a Dutch hospital (n = 107) was conducted to measure clinical leadership, relational coordination at two levels (medical specialty group and between different specialties), quality of care, and job satisfaction. Results Clinical leadership was related to better quality of care through more relational coordination within the medical specialty group. Clinical leadership was related to more job satisfaction through more relational coordination within the medical specialty group, through more relational coordination between specialties, and sequentially through both kinds of relational coordination. Conclusion Physicians who act as clinical leaders are important for crossing specialist boundaries and increasing care outcomes. Practical implications To improve multidisciplinary collaboration, managers should encourage clinical leadership and pay attention to the strong relationships between physicians from the same specialty.