The Physician: The Captain of the Team

More than 4½ million men and women from some two hundred occupations are employed in the delivery of health services in the United States. One type of health professional — the physician — plays a unique role. Although physicians account for only 8 percent of health service employment, their actions and decisions are of critical importance to the entire system. The term “health team” is sometimes only a figure of speech, but the “captaincy” by the physician is beyond doubt. It is impossible to understand the problems of medical care without understanding the physician. And it is impossible to make significant changes in the medical field without changing physician behavior…