Professionalism Program at Penn Medicine
Search the site
Home » Other Services
Other Services
Training Program
PPPM’s Training Program employs a conference format to present coping skills that disruptive physicians may use to modify their behavior and achieve and maintain improved future performance. Participation in these conferences fulfills the Joint Commission requirement that health care organizations take concrete steps to address disruptive behavior in the workplace. Oftentimes, after the initial assessment, a recommendation and/or mandate is made requesting that the disruptive physician seek additional training for improved performance. The conferences have several important features:
- The two-day conference led by PPPM’s team of behavioral health experts provides physicians and organizations needed follow-up support. Attendees can be self-referred or required to attend by their organization.
- The small group setting of the conference allows for an interactive format that includes both didactic and interpersonal learning. The course content focuses on skill building and mastery of emotions.
- PPPM conferences are held several times a year.
- Continuing Education credits are awarded for full two-day attendance.
Management Consultation
PPPM’s Management Consultation service assists health care organizations in managing disruptive individuals in the workplace, including physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals. Executives and physician leaders of health care organizations must be committed to addressing disruptive behaviors in a consistent manner. PPPM helps organizations meet this commitment by educating health care executives, managers, and/or supervisors about the costs of disruptive behaviors and equipping them to address these behaviors effectively and efficiently, in effect “training the trainer.” PPPM experts provide guidance on:
- Screening job applicants for potential behavioral issues
- Learning to assess the ability of individuals to cooperate before assembling a management team
- Early problem detection and addressing disruptive behavior at the onset
- Having difficult conversations with physicians exhibiting disruptive behavior
- Conducting informal interventions and following up afterward
- Monitoring a disruptive physician both before and after the intervention
- Educating team members on appropriate behaviors as defined by the code of conduct
- Providing skill-based training and coaching for leaders in relationship-building and collaborative practice
- Knowing when to ask for more help
Policy Implementation
PPPM’s Policy Implementation service helps health care organizations structure their polices and procedures to incorporate guidelines for dealing with disruptive parties. The Joint Commission requires that all organizations seeking accreditation “must adopt a code of conduct defining unacceptable, inappropriate, and disruptive behaviors and must implement a formal process to address them.” As health care organizations strive to meet this mandate, PPPM can help an organization develop and implement an effective professionalism strategy. PPPM can aid in the development and implementation of:
- A professionalism committee to identify poor behavior, intervene before behavioral problems worsen, and offer treatment plans
- Policies and procedures that address “zero tolerance” for intimidating and/or disruptive behaviors
- A reporting/monitoring system to capture patient/staff complaints and allegations
- Procedures for reviewing allegations
- An organizational process for addressing disruptive behavior
- Non-confrontational interventional strategies
- A mode for graduated interventions and feedback
- Multi-level professional/leadership training
- A system for assessing staff perceptions
- A documentation process to record all attempts at addressing disruptive behaviors
Click to learn about our Disruptive Physician Consultation & Assessment Services