Travel Tuesday is long gone and you’re finally boarding the flight you got on a great discount! As you try resting your eyes, the flight keeps experiencing increased amounts of turbulence. You’re informed by a flight attendant that the person in the cockpit has no formal training in aviation. But, to settle your nerves, the flight attendant assures you that the person flying the plane has an MBA from a prestigious university. How confident would you feel about reaching your destination safely?
Now apply this thought experiment to the healthcare system: A life-or-death industry where countless decisions affecting patient outcomes are made by individuals who may never have set foot in a medical classroom.
It sounds ludicrous, doesn’t it? Yet this is the norm for healthcare leadership in America today. Roughly 15-20% of physicians are not board certified in the specialties they practice. But, there is a growing number of voices demanding change. These individuals believe healthcare leaders should meet the same rigorous certification standards required of doctors, nurses, and technicians.
“If our healthcare professionals are required to maintain certifications and licenses, then the people who are making decisions for them should have to as well. Right now we are seeing too many MBAs making decisions that affect both healthcare workers and patients, which leads to a profit-over-patients mindset,” explains Sarah M. Worthy, CEO of DoorSpace.
Her point cuts to the heart of a crisis in American healthcare: decision-making driven by financial motives rather than patient care. The U.S. healthcare system is a unique blend of medicine and big business. While strong business acumen is essential to keep hospitals financially viable, too often, corporate leaders lack the medical expertise necessary to grasp the ramifications of their decisions. This disconnect has led to policies that undermine frontline workers and prioritize profits over people.
Decisions about staffing levels, resource allocation, and patient care protocols are frequently made by executives who may not fully understand the human impact of their choices. The result? Overburdened medical professionals, increased burnout, and subpar patient outcomes.
Worthy compares healthcare to other high-stakes industries where technical knowledge is non-negotiable for leadership positions. “Yes, healthcare in America is a business, but the business should not be run at the expense of physician knowledge and patient safety. New laws and regulations that required corporate healthcare leaders to go through similar education to doctors would not only make sense but lead to a more collaborative environment.”
Implementing such a system wouldn’t be without hurdles. Critics might argue that adding certification requirements for healthcare executives could deter skilled business leaders from entering the industry. Others might balk at the costs and time involved in developing and administering these programs.
Worthy argues the long-term benefits far outweigh the challenges. “By ensuring healthcare leaders understand the realities of patient care, the industry can strike a balance between financial sustainability and patient outcomes. It’s an investment in a system that works for everyone.”
Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to advocate for this change. By sharing their stories, they can shed light on how current leadership models impact their work and their patients. Collaborative efforts between medical staff, patient advocacy groups, and educational institutions could pave the way for certification programs tailored to healthcare leadership.
The disconnect between business and medicine in healthcare leadership has contributed to an industry plagued by systemic issues: staffing shortages, worker burnout, and declining patient satisfaction. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.
As Worthy puts it, “Bridging the gap between business and medicine through shared education and standards will create a more collaborative and effective environment. Healthcare needs leaders who understand the stakes – and who value people over profits.”
With bold thinking and collective action, we can redefine what leadership in healthcare means, creating a system that delivers not only financial success but also world-class patient care. And in doing so, we ensure that every decision-maker in the industry is equipped with the tools – and the heart – to lead with humanity.