Centering the Mission: Patients Are the North Star

This chapter highlights the absolute importance of retaining a focus on patients. It describes the purpose of leadership in the light of what our patients need and deserve and how the larger health care system can serve them best. It argues that the role of physician leaders should be elevated to ultimately be in service of our patients – the primary focus of any healthcare organization. It discusses how to engage with frontline clinical staff to get a sense of what is happening at the level of patient interactions. It also provides an overview of common barriers to keeping the patient in focus. Finally, it provides recommendations for how the leader can overcome those barriers and really see the patient perspective.