Edward Lee, MD, says a health care organization’s success hinges on physician leadership

During a recent virtual Premier Connects Healthcare CIO Forum, Edward Lee, MD, executive vice president and chief information officer for The Permanente Federation, said the success of any health care organization depends on how well its physicians lead.

Speaking on the panel, “How to Lead Your IT Team Through Any Market Condition with Confidence, Conviction, and Impact,” Dr. Lee said he thinks it’s important to encourage diversity of thought and create a culture of trust and of listening to help physicians, clinicians, and staff grow in their careers.

“Sometimes that means you have to provide a little more direction, depending on how things are going, and sometimes it means trusting in the people that are working for you to do the work,” said Dr. Lee, who also serves as associate executive director of The Permanente Medical Group.

He added that he encourages teams to keep in mind the organization’s purpose. “Our mission is to provide high-quality care for our patients, to provide evidence-based care, to put the patient at the center of what we do,” Dr. Lee said. “I think when we have those goals and that mission in mind, that allows our teams to do the work that they need to do.”

To view the full panel presentation, watch the recording.