• Decreasing Disruptive Behavior for Better Patient Outcomes (CF23)
• 9-10 a.m.
• Wednesday
• BCEC Room 204AB

Bad behavior in the workplace is difficult to manage, but it becomes more problematic when it has the potential to affect patient outcomes. A Wednesday ethics session will use scenarios and presentations to examine how to deal with disruptive behavior.

Two presentations will address how to deal with bad behaviors. Richard L. Wolman, M.D., M.A., of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, will explain differences between discourteous and disruptive actions, and how they could affect patient outcomes. Joseph F. Kras, M.D., D.D.S., M.A., of Washington University, Saint Louis. will explore resources available for dealing with disruptive physicians and the interventions required before removing a physician from a practice.

Three scenarios will be presented. The first involves a female anesthesiologist who is reported for disruptive behavior toward surgeons and nursing staff. The second is about violent and disruptive behavior by a surgeon that affects patient care. The third deals with misinterpretation by a patient’s companion of standard preoperative questions and procedures that results in a formal complaint against an anesthesiologist for disrespect and inappropriate conduct.

Speakers will explain how to identify disruptive behaviors early, the harm they could cause, how they could affect patient outcomes, how to deal with the behaviors and the potential legal implications.