Taking Corrective Action
Sometimes you simply cannot fix everything, and you need to be easy on yourself for having reached the point where the situation is no longer remediable in spite of your best efforts. In the end, everyone will be better off. When physician conduct becomes detrimental to patient safety, staff safety or quality patient care; is disruptive to the organization; or is otherwise chronically aberrant, then it is time to take adverse action. Since there are many pitfalls that have HR and legal implications, it is advisable to consult with relevant personnel to avoid problems with inadequate documentation and the potential need to report actions to state agencies and the National Practitioner Data Bank (per the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act of 1986).
Resources
- Ury W, Fisher R. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. 2nd ed. New York: Penguin Books; 1991.
- Reinertsen J. Physicians as leaders in the improvement of health care systems. Ann Intern Med. 1998;128:833-8.
- Institute of Medicine Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
- American College of Physician Executives. Managing Physician Performance in Organizations. Ongoing courses available at www.acpe.org.