Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Synopsis
Leadership in Healthcare opens up the world of leadership studies to all healthcare professionals. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals spend thousands of hours studying the science and technology of healthcare, and years or even decades putting into practice recent findings in molecular biology, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutics. By contrast, the topic of leadership and the traits of effective leaders tend to receive remarkably little attention. Yet no less vital than an understanding of how to interpret diagnostic tests and design care plans is a grasp of healthcare's organizational side, including the operation of multidisciplinary care teams, academic departments, and hospitals. If patient care, education, research, and professional service are to thrive in years to come, we must do a better job of preparing healthcare professionals to lead effectively.
Composed of insightful and thought-provoking essays on the key facets of leadership, this book is designed to meet the needs of several important constituencies, including educators of health professionals who wish to incorporate leadership into their educational programs; health professional organizations seeking to enhance their members' leadership effectiveness, and individual health professionals who wish to embrace leadership in their personal and professional lives.
This book represents a vital resource for health professionals who wish to enhance the quality of leadership in health professions education, practice, and professional development.
In addition to regularly caring for patients, Richard Gunderman, MD PhD MPH brings to this discussion a wealth of personal experience in professional and organizational leadership.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Brenda B Harton, MSN, RN(University of Phoenix)
Description:Exploring leadership in healthcare, this book is a series of philosophical, thought-provoking essays that explore what it means to be an effective leader.
Purpose:The purpose is to help readers develop an understanding of the healthcare organization and the synergistic role of the leader within that organization. By reviewing philosophical theories and using entertaining vignettes as examples, the characteristics of effective and ineffective leaders are proposed.
Audience:Primarily for physicians in leadership or prospective leadership roles, this book is of great benefit to all healthcare professionals, including educators, who aspire to better understand leadership in healthcare and the qualities of healthcare leaders. With education and experience in medicine, philosophy, bioethics, philanthropy, and ethics, the author brings much thought and expertise to this subject.
Features:Seeking to provide a complete view of what it means to be a leader, the book centers discussion on what leaders know and do, why leadership matters, and the search for and development of true leaders. Drawing on the thoughts of Aristotle, Plato, Edward Gibbon, Ian Fleming, and others, the author examines leadership from the perspective of how one's actions and choices define one as a leader. Various theories explain how leaders often strive to motivate employees, and assumptions about employee motivation are examined based on a leader's responses. In addition, the case is made for embracing diversity, including intellectual diversity, to enhance the collective wisdom and effectiveness of the group.
Assessment:While small and pocket-sized, the book is not a quick read, simply because one would not want to hurry through it, but read it with a highlighter in hand to mark statements both profound and innately true, to be re-read and internalized. This book meets the mark as essential reading for any aspiring leader who may be contemplating the practicality of embracing leadership as a worthy calling.