Medical Staff

MA hospitals to control "healthcare road rage"

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, August 12, 2008

Hospitals in Massachusetts’ North Shore (north of Boston), are taking the initiative reporting disruptive physician behavior, according to an article in The Boston Globe, “Hospitals try to calm doctors’ outbursts,” published last weekend. Disruptive physicians sometimes yell or even throw objects at nurses and other medical staff, an increasingly prevalent phenomenon known as “healthcare road rage.” Why all of these outbursts? Stress. With mounting financial and staffing pressures, hospital doctors might feel overwhelmed, take it out on other staff members, and ultimately hurt patients; there is a link between disruptive behavior and the occurrence of medical errors, according to the article.

In accordance with the Joint Commission (formerly known as JACHO)’s patient safety policies, effective Jan. 1, healthcare facilities’ staff members are required to report bad behavior.

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