By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress disorder
    5 Ways To Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    October 27, 2021
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    Medical device classification and development strategies
    January 19, 2022
    varicose veins
    Varicose Veins Prevention: 3 Lifestyle Changes to Make Right Now
    May 1, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
    January 25, 2023
    Staying Positive While Living with Mesothelioma
    January 24, 2023
    The Many Health Benefits of Being Outdoors
    January 17, 2023
    How to Assess a Safe Placement of a Nasogastric or Nasoenteric Tube and Its Complications
    January 19, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    9 Great Resources For Your Medical Assistant Training
    August 16, 2018
    Waiting for HIPAA Clarity? Who Has Time?
    September 19, 2014
    Topics You Need To Study And Prepare For When Taking The NCLEX
    August 12, 2020
    Latest News
    Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
    January 25, 2023
    9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
    January 25, 2023
    Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine
    January 12, 2023
    Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers
    January 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The 80-20 Rule and Disruptive Healthcare Professionals
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
ABA therapist
Everything You Need to Know About Applied Behavior Analysis
Health
Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Well-Being
lifestyle Wellness
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
Technology
medical practice and technology advancement
6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
Technology
digital dental x-ray
How Does A Digital Dental X-Ray Work?
Dental health
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > The 80-20 Rule and Disruptive Healthcare Professionals
Hospital Administration

The 80-20 Rule and Disruptive Healthcare Professionals

Tracy Granzyk
Last updated: 2015/07/06 at 11:15 AM
Tracy Granzyk
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

80_20_Rule_ImageA colleague forwarded on a momentarily disheartening clip from the Washington Post last week.

80_20_Rule_ImageA colleague forwarded on a momentarily disheartening clip from the Washington Post last week. The article, entitled Anesthesiologist trashes sedated patient–and it ends up costing her, included an audio clip from the patient’s cell phone that he had inadvertently left running during a colonoscopy in which healthcare professionals charged to care for him instead chose to act like grade school bullies. The anesthesiologist, who was one of two physicians named in a lawsuit for medical malpractice and defamation, is clearly heard on the audio clip belittling and taunting the patient while sedated. Additional staff is heard laughing as the proceduralist and anesthesiologist continue their disturbing banter. No one in the room, or at least no one on the audio clip included in the Post article, told them to stop. I will bet, however, there was at least one person in the room who wanted to say something.

I say momentarily disheartening, however, because as I sat listening and briefly wondering how any of the work we do educating the young–teaching them to stand up to bullies and disruptive healthcare “professionals” like this in the workplace or to stand up for patients–was going to overcome the still so well-ensconced medical culture, I quickly found solace in the fact that we like to elevate the train wrecks in all walks of life. And the Post was most definitely covering the story of a train wreck.

Knowing that our culture is comprised of the stories we share, I just as quickly recalled multiple stories of the great work being done in my small corner of healthcare alone. Take, for example, the weekly Good Catch stories shared throughout the MedStar Health system showing exactly how the 80-20 rule can be applied to healthcare bullies. I was comforted by the fact that for the 2 physicians mentioned in the Post story, I knew of at least 8 good people protecting patients in just one health system. Stories of visiting nurses who ensure the safety of those in the home, or of the local security guard who sits with a soon to be patient until help arrives. Stories of nurses who speak up when care does not seem to be going in the needed direction, and stories of physician leaders who actually lead, setting the stage for those often silenced to share their voice. Yes, the 80% is alive and well!

More Read

Top 4 traits every healthcare provider should have

Top 4 Traits Every Healthcare Provider Should Have

Maximizing Outcomes Through Effective Patient Engagement Strategies
Why Breastfeeding is Good for your Baby
8 Underrated Healthy Lifestyle Tips to Consider
How to Take Advantage of Open Enrollment in Medicare

Those who aren’t convinced it is just good form or good karma to treat patients and/or colleagues with dignity and respect can turn to a growing body of formal research that contends bullying and incivility in the workplace has many costs, including patient safety and workforce overall well-being. An opinion piece in the New York Times on June 19th entitled, No Time to Be Nice At Work, by Christine Porath refers to a survey of more than 4,500 doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel of which “…71 percent tied disruptive behavior, such as abusive, condescending or insulting personal conduct, to medical errors, and 27 percent tied such behavior to patient deaths.”  Porath also references work recently published in the American Journal of Management, Does Rudeness Really Matter? The Effects of Rudeness on Task Performance and Helpfulness, which showed people working in an environment that lacked civility missed information directly in front of them and offered fewer creative solutions to tasks before them. The same was true if individuals simply witnessed an exchange of rudeness.

It matters not whether it ends up being the data or the stories that drives us to treat one another, especially patients, with dignity and respect in the healthcare environment. And maybe stories like the one in the Post last week are needed in some strange way, if only so that they might discourage the next bad actor who has failed to mature themselves from lashing out at the vulnerable. I do know, however, that we need to add at least five stories of the good work healthcare professionals are doing each day to counteract the negative force a story like this carries into the mainstream. In the meantime, we need to continue to empower those healthcare professionals who want to do better, especially young healthcare trainees. There are many within healthcare who look at the Post story and are embarrassed to be part of a profession that would allow this to continue but have yet to find their voice or platform. Here’s to the good guys and gals–the 80%–we know you’re out there. It is up to healthcare leaders to give them a pen…or a mic!

 

TAGGED: Healthcare, patients, Physicians

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Tracy Granzyk July 6, 2015
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article affordable healthcare How High-Deductible Insurance Fuels Momentous Healthcare Shifts
Next Article “How to Hack Healthcare” hosted by HIMSS

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

ABA therapist
Everything You Need to Know About Applied Behavior Analysis
Health January 26, 2023
Small Lifestyle Changes That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Well-Being
lifestyle Wellness January 26, 2023
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
Technology January 26, 2023
medical practice and technology advancement
6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice
Technology January 25, 2023

You Might also Like

green hospitals
Hospital Administration

9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives

January 20, 2023
saving money in healthcare
BusinessGlobal HealthcareHospital Administration

Best Money-Saving Tips for Health Managers

January 12, 2023
The perfect routine to maintain your weight over the holidays
FitnessHealth

The Perfect Routine to Maintain your Weight over the Holidays

January 9, 2023
HR staff must deal with divisive views in healthcare
BusinessGlobal HealthcareHospital AdministrationPolicy & Law

HR Must Navigate Polarizing Views in Healthcare Workplaces

January 4, 2023
Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?