Inside physician engagement: Why small changes can make a big difference

Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG Healthcare, offers a note of perspective for health care administrators reading the 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey.

Running a hospital or health system, Heller says, is an increasingly difficult balancing act — managing finances, staffing shortages, patient volumes and clinician well-being all at once. And by and large, he argues, administrators are doing many things right.

But the survey shows there’s still meaningful room for improvement, particularly when it comes to physician engagement. The encouraging takeaway: progress doesn’t have to come from massive overhauls or expensive initiatives. Small, consistent actions — listening more closely, acknowledging pressures, creating space for physician input — can go a long way.

Heller emphasizes that an engaged physician workforce isn’t just a morale win. It can help stabilize organizations, ease retention challenges and improve patient care in the process. When physicians feel supported and heard, many downstream problems become easier to manage.

For leaders navigating today’s pressures, the message is optimistic but clear: engagement is one of the most powerful levers available — and often, the simplest ones are the most effective.