The medical staff role: management in rural hospitals.

For this study medical chiefs of staff were asked about their views and the views of their medical staff regarding the management of their rural hospitals. Findings disclose a discrepancy between expectations and reality for the physician's role in the management of their institutions. However, the chiefs recommended no changes in the organizational structure, although they did suggest improved communication and better board-administration organization management. Although cooperation and team management were considered important, joint ventures between the physicians and their rural hospitals were perceived with skepticism.