Boston-based Mass General Brigham is restructuring its community hospital leadership and consolidating oversight of its community physicians to further integrate operations and reduce expenses across the health system, The Boston Globe reported Jan. 20.
The move comes in response to the financial pressures and staffing shortages that hospitals across the nation are challenged with.
Mass General Brigham is doing away with CEO titles for its community hospitals, with those leaders operating as presidents and COOs, according to a statement shared with Becker's Hospital Review. The system said fewer hospital leaders will help it to move quicker on strategic initiatives and avoid having to reach a consensus among management teams.
David Roberts, MD, president of Salem (Mass.) Hospital, will become senior vice president of community operations, effective March 1, overseeing financial and clinical initiatives for the system's six community hospitals. He will also combine and oversee six employed physician groups under Mass General Brigham Medical Group.
Previously, the system's community hospitals had their own physician groups with management structure and compensation and benefit packages, according to the Globe. Community physicians affiliated with the system — but not directly employed by it — will continue to be overseen by Mass General Brigham Community Physicians.
Mass General Brigham told the Globe the shift will facilitate the recruitment and management of employed community physicians and hopefully prevent price increases, but consolidating management positions could potentially lead to staff cuts down the line.
"This is an unprecedented, challenging time. Doing okay really isn't good enough anymore," Greg Meyer, president of Mass General Brigham' community division, told the Globe. "We have to be able to make decisions clearly. People need to be able to get guidance relatively rapidly … This is about us improving efficiency of decision making and clarity of authority."