Inside physician engagement: How trust is built day to day

Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG Healthcare, explains why communication is the clearest divider between physicians who feel engaged and those who don’t.

The 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey shows that physicians who describe themselves as highly engaged are significantly more likely to say their leaders communicate openly and act transparently. Heller argues that trust isn’t built through annual town halls or polished messaging, but through consistent, visible behaviors: asking physicians for input, explaining the “why” behind decisions and closing the feedback loop — even when the answer isn’t what clinicians hoped to hear.

He points to frequent check-ins on staffing, protocols and compensation models as critical opportunities to reinforce trust. Physicians want to understand how decisions are made and feel confident their perspectives are being considered, particularly as financial pressures and workforce shortages strain daily operations.

While some challenges, including staffing and margins, are harder to solve quickly, Heller says communication is the most immediate lever leaders can pull.

When physicians feel heard and informed, engagement follows — and organizations are better positioned to retain clinicians who want to focus on patient care.