Physician and nurse executives team up to fight disruptive behavior

The American College of Physician Executives and the American Organization of Nurse Executives are joining forces to stamp out disruptive behavior. The two organizations are providing resources and guidance to foster excellence in nurse and physician relationships throughout the country. Resources include Web-based classes and a variety of on-line articles on decreasing disruptive behavior. The issue is so widespread that The Joint Commission published a Sentinel Event Alert addressing intimidating and disruptive behaviors in July 2008. In addition, The Joint Commission issued a statement requiring that health care organizations adopt zero tolerance policies for disruptive behavior by January 1, 2009. According to an ACPE survey, more than 95 percent of respondents said they had witnessed disturbing, disruptive and potentially dangerous behaviors among physicians on a regular basis. (Contact: Carrie Weimar, ACPE, cweimar@acpe.org or (800) 562-8088)

Issue 40: Behaviors that undermine a culture of safety | Joint Commission