During THMA’s recent Chief Physician Executive Forum, CPEs gathered to discuss common challenges and evolving strategies. In a session titled “Navigating the Storm: Strategies to Manage Regulatory Changes.” The group shared how systems are adapting to an increasingly volatile regulatory environment. We’ve summarized key lessons in the table below.
Lesson | What to Do | Example |
|---|---|---|
Build agile infrastructure for regulatory response | Stand up agile, cross-functional task forces to manage EO-related disruptions with precision. | One system pivoted from a traditional Incident Command structure to a Government Affairs-led task force, better suited to navigating political sensitivities. |
Communicate clearly, centrally, and proactively | Establish a central hub—like SharePoint or an internal digest—for streamlined, accountable communication, while avoiding liability from excessive written communication. | A Midwest system launched a weekly leadership digest to streamline EO communications. Others used SharePoint hubs to house approved language, summaries, and key contacts—reducing inbox overload. |
Use language strategically to mitigate risk | Align public messaging with approved guidelines, avoid sensitive terms, and limit what’s documented to reduce political exposure. | One system scrubbed 700+ webpages to align DEI content with approved messaging. A Southern system reframed its DEI officer’s title around “health outcomes” to lower political friction. Another avoided the term “incident command” to steer clear of crisis connotations. |
Engage internally to sustain trust | Keep staff in the loop even when external messaging is restricted. In times of external restraint, internal communication becomes essential. | One Southern system hosted 20 open forums across campuses so employees could voice questions and concerns. Others are leaning on town halls and internal briefings to maintain transparency. |
Respond to leaks with resilience, not reaction | Anticipate leaks and prepare. Leaks are inevitable—but knee-jerk reactions aren’t. | Systems reported embedding risk protocols and waiting for legal clarity instead of reacting impulsively to media or political noise. |
So What?
For Chief Physician Executives, these takeaways highlight a growing expectation to lead beyond clinical strategy. As regulatory and political pressures mount, CPEs must navigate risk, shape internal communication, and guide system-wide response with precision. Their leadership is now central to maintaining trust, aligning teams, and safeguarding the organization’s mission—often by knowing when to speak, when to act, and when to hold steady. In short, CPEs are becoming the critical link between policy turbulence and operational resilience.