Alignment between physicians and hospital administrators: historical perspective and future directions.

Unfortunately, the working relationship between physicians and hospital administrators is often not congruent and can even become contentious, resulting in antagonism across many Healthcare Organizations (HCOs). This treatise provides a broad, literature-based, descriptive overview in an evolving historical context, coupled with observations based on extensive professional experience. It highlights the root causes of the nonalignment between physicians and hospital administrators. Most importantly, this manuscript proposes a framework for short and long-term solutions toward a more cohesive and collaborative team approach, based on understanding the respective roles, as well as the strengths, and contributions of the two groups.