Eight core values represent what we believe is critical to the future of health care delivery.

As physicians and health care professionals continue to navigate today’s complex and ever-changing health care system, it is paramount to ensure the physician’s voice is central to discussions around health care delivery and policy. The Physicians Foundation remains unwavering in our mission to empower physicians to lead in the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient health care. We abide by the following core values:

Physician-Patient Relationship. Physicians and patients must have the ability to create and maintain a true partnership, as this epitomizes the most essential element of a quality health care system.

Autonomy. Autonomy allows physicians to be both responsive to and responsible for patients’ needs and concerns. It gives them the opportunity to be patient advocates, operate with judgmental independence and serve with the patient’s best interest in mind.

Access. In order for physicians to be effective patient advocates, there must be more support for the overall concept of “access.” This includes greater transparency into payer decisions.

Quality. Physicians must be the guardians of quality health care, participating in the discussions and playing a central role in the debate around health care reform.

Transparency. All health care stakeholders must collaborate to address challenges that make the current system difficult to understand. This includes bringing greater transparency to areas such as costs, billing practices, narrowing networks, etc.

Social Determinants. It is critical to recognize and create programs that address the pervasive, debilitating effects of poverty on health care costs, resource utilization and overall patient outcomes.

Physician Wellness. Physicians require support from other health care professionals as burnout can have devastating effects on physicians’ quality of life, as well as on cost, access and quality.

Physician Leadership. As physicians increasingly face administrative and regulatory burdens, it is imperative that a greater emphasis is placed on building core business, management and leadership skills.