Don’t Overlook the Importance of Physician Relations

Ritch K. Eich

Q. What do the peach orchards of Northern California and most major health systems have in common?

A. More than you might think, according to Ritch K. Eich, who worked on several ranches to earn his way through college before going on to build an impressive career that has included serving as vice president, senior vice president, and chairman of the board for a number of hospitals, health systems, and insurers around the country.

“If the ranch is located on fertile land, the grower is industrious, he is selective by purchasing the best young trees from the nursery, he treats the crew of workers respectfully and thoughtfully, and the orchard is well maintained,” the grower will likely be successful, says Eich.

He notes that the industrious people working in the field are crucial to the success of the orchards. This is similar to the essential role that physicians play in their organizations today—and this is a lesson that Eich has made a point to remember in every role he has held since. In fact, he stresses that physician relations should be an important element of any health system’s strategy.

Read the full story now to learn why it’s so important to cultivate strong relationships with your physicians:

Advice from a Health Care Executive: Cultivating Physician Relations Leads to a Bounty of Benefits for Health Systems

Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President