Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2013; 26(04): 259-264
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1356728
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Conflict Management: Difficult Conversations with Difficult People

Amy R. Overton
1   Division of Health Policy and Management, Department of Health Administration, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Ann C. Lowry
2   Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 November 2013 (online)

Abstract

Conflict occurs frequently in any workplace; health care is not an exception. The negative consequences include dysfunctional team work, decreased patient satisfaction, and increased employee turnover. Research demonstrates that training in conflict resolution skills can result in improved teamwork, productivity, and patient and employee satisfaction. Strategies to address a disruptive physician, a particularly difficult conflict situation in healthcare, are addressed.

 
  • References

  • 1 Saxton R. Communication skills training to address disruptive physician behavior. AORN J 2012; 95 (5) 602-611
  • 2 Booij LH. Conflicts in the operating theatre. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2007; 20 (2) 152-156
  • 3 Workplace Conflict and How Businesses Can Harness It to Thrive. Global Human Captial Report CPP 2008; . Available at: https://www.cpp.com/pdfs/CPP_Global_Human_Capital_Report_Workplace_Conflict.pdf
  • 4 Kusy M, Holloway E. Toxic Workplace!. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2009
  • 5 Sofield L, Salmond SW. Workplace violence. A focus on verbal abuse and intent to leave the organization. Orthop Nurs 2003; 22 (4) 274-283
  • 6 Miner G, Glomb M, Hulin C. Experience sampling mood and its correlates at work. J Occup Organ Psychol 2005; 78: 171-193
  • 7 Janss R, Rispens S, Segers M, Jehn KA. What is happening under the surface? Power, conflict and the performance of medical teams. Med Educ 2012; 46 (9) 838-849
  • 8 Catchpole KRK, Giddings AEB, Hirst DT, Peek GJ, De Leval MR. A method for measuring threats and errors in surgery. Cogn Technol Work 2008; 10: 295-304
  • 9 Christian CK, Gustafson ML, Roth EM , et al. A prospective study of patient safety in the operating room. Surgery 2006; 139 (2) 159-173
  • 10 Gawande AA, Zinner MJ, Studdert DM, Brennan TA. Analysis of errors reported by surgeons at three teaching hospitals. Surgery 2003; 133 (6) 614-621
  • 11 MacDonald O. Disruptive Physician Behavior. Quantia MD, 2011. Available at: www.quantiamd.com
  • 12 Umiker WO. Management Skills for the New Health Care Supervisor. 3rd ed. Gaithersburg, Md.: Aspen Publishers; 1998. :xxiii, 423
  • 13 Rogers-Clark C, Pearce S, Cameron M. Management of disruptive behaviour within nursing work environments: a comprehensive systematic review of the evidence. JBI Library of Systematic Reviews 2009; 7 (15) 615-678
  • 14 Runde C, Flanagan T. Developing Your Conflict Competence: A Hands-On Guide for Leaders, Managers, Facilitators and Teams. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass; 2010
  • 15 Patterson K, Grenny J, McMillan R, Switzler A. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002. :xv, 240
  • 16 Patterson K, Grenny J, McMillan R, Switzler A. Crucial Confrontations: Tools for Resolving Broken Promises, Violated Expectations, and Bad Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2005. :xviii, 284
  • 17 Quinn RE, Faerman SR, Thompson MP, McGrath M. Becoming a Master Manager. Wiley: New York; 2010: 86-98
  • 18 Greer LL, Saygi O, Aaldering H, de Dreu CK. Conflict in medical teams: opportunity or danger?. Med Educ 2012; 46 (10) 935-942
  • 19 Gladwell M. Outliers: the Story of Success. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Co.; 2008
  • 20 Argyris C. Skilled incompetence. In: Harvard Business Review on Effective Communication. Harvard Business School Press: Boston, MA; 1999: 101-118
  • 21 Thompson LL. Making the Team: A Guide for Managers. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 2011
  • 22 Capobianco S, Mark D, Kraus L. Managing Conflict Dynamics: A Practical Approach. 5th ed. St. Petersburg, FL: Eckerd College; 2008
  • 23 Reina DS, Reina ML. Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace: Building Effective Relationships in Your Organizations. 2nd ed. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler; 2006
  • 24 Crawley J. I'll meet you half way. Nurs Stand 2011; 25 (38) 64
  • 25 Reynolds NT. Disruptive Physician Behavior: Use and Misuse of the Label. JMR 2012; 98: 8-19
  • 26 Guidebook for Managing Disruptive Behavior. Toronoto, Ontario, Canada: College of Physicians and Surgeons, Ontario Hospital Association; 2008
  • 27 Leape LL, Shore MF, Dienstag JL , et al. Perspective: a culture of respect, part 1: the nature and causes of disrespectful behavior by physicians. Acad Med 2012; 87 (7) 845-852
  • 28 Commission TJ. Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety. Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert, 2008; (40). Available at: http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/18/SEA_40.PDF
  • 29 Boards, F.o.S.M., Report of the Special Committee on Professional Conduct and Ethics, Section III Disruptive Behavior, Federation of State Boards of Medicine, 2000; 4-7
  • 30 Hewson MG, Little ML. Giving feedback in medical education: verification of recommended techniques. J Gen Intern Med 1998; 13 (2) 111-116
  • 31 Adams M. The practical primacy of questions in action learning. In: Dilworth L, Boshyk Y, , eds. Action Learning and Its Applications, Present and Future. Lambertville NJ: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers; 2010: 1-11
  • 32 Sullivan M. Disruptive doctors. In: Minnesota Physician. Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Physician Publishing, Inc.; 2013: 1,10-11,38
  • 33 Anger Management for Healthcare Professionals Program. [cited 2013 February 26, 2013]. Available at: paceprogram.ucsd.edu
  • 34 Program for Distressed Physicians. Center for Professional Health [cited 2013 March 3]. Available at: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/root/vumc.php?site=cph&doc=36636
  • 35 Samenow CP, Worley LL, Neufeld R, Fishel T, Swiggart WH. Transformative learning in a professional development course aimed at addressing disruptive physician behavior: a composite case study. Acad Med 2013; 88 (1) 117-123