The American Medical Association adopted new ethical obligation policies for physician leaders participating in team-based care models. The new policies were designed to positively affect quality of care and patient outcomes as well as improve access to care and reduce medical spending and burnout.
The AMA recommends in a report:
1. Understand their own and team members' skills and expertise as well as their roles in patient care.
2. Anticipate responsibilities and accountability for all team members.
3. Encourage other members to provide key thoughts and ideas for adoption.
4. Master broad teamwork skills.
5. Promote core values that include:
● Honesty
● Creativity
● Discipline
● Humility
● Curiosity
6. Clarify expectations for the team and provide transparent decision-making.
7. Encourage discussions about ethics as well as clinical concerns.
8. Promote shared accountability for decisions and outcomes.
The organization's policy also suggests physician leaders advocate for their teams to make sure they have everything they need; address barriers to collaboration; and develop institutional policies for addressing team conflicts.