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Articles

Poll Results: Doctors' Disruptive Behavior Disturbs Physician Leaders

For Safety's Sake Disruptive Behavior Must Be Tamed

Managing Unmanageable Physicians Leadership, stewardship and disruptive behavior

Disruptive Behavior and the Law

Doctors Doing Drugs and Drinking

 
1. Generally speaking, problems with physician behavior occur within my organization:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Once or twice a year
17%276
  3 to 5 times a year
24.1%392
  More than 5 times a year
19%309
  Monthly
18.1%294
  Weekly
14.1%230
  Daily
3.4%56
  Never (If you choose "Never" please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Done." Thank you for participating.)
4.3%70
Total Respondents  1627
(skipped this question)  8
2. When a problem with physician behavior arises, it MOST OFTEN involves conflict between a physician and: (CHOOSE ONE ANSWER ONLY)
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Another physician
14.7%229
  A nurse or nurses, physician assistants, etc.
56.5%878
  Members of the administration
14.5%226
  A patient or patients
14.2%221
Total Respondents  1554
(skipped this question)  81
3. Typically, problems with physician behavior at my organization involve: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Refusal to complete tasks or carry out duties
51.7%803
 Physical abuse (including throwing items)
9%140
 Insults
36.6%568
 Disrespect
82.6%1284
 Yelling
41%637
   Other (please specify)
13.5%210
Total Respondents  1554
(skipped this question)  81
4. We have a WRITTEN code of behavior at my organization.
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Yes
71.7%1115
  No
28.3%440
Total Respondents  1555
(skipped this question)  80
5. (If you answered "No" to question 4, please skip to question 6.) If you answered "Yes" to question 4, do you think the written code of behavior is enforced:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Uniformly
46.3%505
  Selectively
46.4%506
  Not at all
7.2%79
Total Respondents  1090
(skipped this question)  539
6. We have a FORMAL discipline process at my organization.
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Yes
79.7%1232
  No
20.3%313
Total Respondents  1545
(skipped this question)  90
7. I believe physician behavior problems in my organization are most likely:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Under-reported because employees fear reprisals if they report a physician
29.5%458
  Only reported when a physician is completely out-of-line and a serious violation occurs
50.3%781
  Readily reported by the staff
20.2%313
Total Respondents  1552
(skipped this question)  83
8. Are any of your organization's compensation formulas linked to appropriate behavior?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Yes
17.2%266
  No
82.8%1281
Total Respondents  1547
(skipped this question)  85
9. Physicians in my organization generally are:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Treated exactly the same as other employees when a behavior problem is reported
27.6%426
  Treated more leniently than other employees because of their professional stature
63.2%977
  Treated more harshly and held to a higher standard of behavior than other employees
9.2%143
Total Respondents  1546
(skipped this question)  88
10. Physicians in my organization who generate high amounts of revenue are treated more leniently when it comes to behavior problems than those who bring in less revenue.
 Response PercentResponse Total
  True
38.6%591
  False
61.4%941
Total Respondents  1532
(skipped this question)  102
11. The MAJORITY of physician behavior problems in my organization stem from: (CHOOSE ONE ANSWER ONLY)
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Conflicts between physicians and staff members (including nurses)
36.1%562
  Turf battles among physicians
4.3%67
  Physicians who refuse to embrace teamwork
25.4%395
  Physicians who are feeling frustrated and vulnerable due to changes within the organization
26%405
   Other (please specify)
8.1%126
Total Respondents  1555
(skipped this question)  79
12. What percentage of physician behavior problems at your organization are linked to alcohol or substance abuse?
 Response PercentResponse Total
  None
42.9%653
  1% - 10%
51.9%791
  11% - 25%
4.1%62
  26% - 50%
0.9%13
  51% - 75%
0.3%4
  76% - 100%
0%0
Total Respondents  1523
(skipped this question)  112
13. Physician behavior problems at my organization:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  Crop up among various physicians from time to time with no clear pattern
29.7%457
  Nearly always involve the same physician(s) over and over again
70.3%1080
Total Respondents  1537
(skipped this question)  96
14. Attempts to intervene and correct physician behavior at my organization are successful:
 Response PercentResponse Total
  0% - 5% of the time
6.1%92
  6% - 10% of the time
11.3%172
  11% - 25% of the time
18%274
  26% - 50% of the time
25.3%385
  51% - 75% of the time
25.5%388
  75% - 100% of the time
13.8%209
Total Respondents  1520
(skipped this question)  115
15. In the last two years, my organization has taken the following actions to address physician behavior problems : (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Tried to ignore a problem and didn't take any action
31.3%486
 Met with a physician to discuss their behavior problem(s)
94.5%1465
 Issued a written warning to a physician
67.7%1050
 Ordered a physician to seek behavior counseling
53.4%829
 Terminated a physician
36.4%565
   Other (please specify)
6.5%101
Total Respondents  1551
(skipped this question)  84
16. As a physician executive at my organization, I am responsible for: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
 Response PercentResponse Total
 Developing physician behavior codes and policies
49.9%689
 Enforcing physician behavior codes and policies
69.1%955
 Training physicians about behavior codes and policies
50.5%698
 Coaching physicians who exhibit improper behavior
73.7%1019
 Investigating complaints about physician behavior
87.7%1212
 Carrying out disciplinary action against physicians with behavior problems
60.2%832
 Teminating physicians with behavior problems
40.6%561
Total Respondents  1382
(skipped this question)  253