Zeitschrift für Nephrologie und Therapeutik

Medical Chief's Role in the Dialysis Unit

Abstract

Jessica Emli *

The ESRD Conditions for Coverage outline the duties of a dialysis unit medical director, which include several quality, safety, and educational domains. Many of these roles involve leadership abilities that are neither obvious nor learned during the medical director's education. Patients and staff feel free to express their concerns about suboptimal systems without fear of retaliation, and there is a continual iterative process of quality improvement and safety that appreciates input from all stakeholders, thanks to the efforts of a competent medical director. Because policies and procedures make it easier to do the right thing, this eventually reduces the use of shortcuts and workarounds that may threaten patient safety and quality. Communications skills, employee empowerment, resource allocation, mentoring, team building, and strategic vision are all important aspects of the medical director's leadership. To transmit a sense of accessibility and dedication, the medical director must be present in the dialysis unit for extended durations. Many dialysis medical directors would benefit from leadership training, whether it came from within or outside their dialysis organisation.