Professionalism Program at Penn Medicine

Home » Professionalism

Professionalism

Disruptive Physician Consultation & Assessment

PPPM’s “Disruptive Physician Consultation & Assessment” service provides a targeted intervention and action plan to help physicians improve their performance, foster professional behaviors, and rebuild their professional ties with patients, staff, and colleagues. The service has four basic elements:

• Consultation and Assessment
  When disruptive behavior is reported to PPPM by a health care organization, a team is deployed as promptly as possible to make an assessment and outline an initial action plan. The PPPM team is composed of behavioral health experts, who are readily reachable, able to intervene quickly, and offer flexibility with regard to the intervention method.  The consultation and assessment is efficient, individualized, and user-friendly. 
  
  
• Plan Development
  Based on the results of the initial action plan, an extended action plan for the physician may be developed, including further evaluation. The plan may consist of a referral for short-term supportive therapy if a particular adjustment issue is identified, cognitive behavioral therapy for anger or frustration management, longer-term therapy, executive coaching, and/or neuropsychological testing. The plan may also identify the need for structural or systemic change within the organization, among other options.
  
  
• Further Evaluation
  Additional evaluations of the physician are implemented when needed and may include individualized evaluations, structured and semi-structured psychological tests for clarification, collateral interviews with involved staff, and/or distribution and evaluation of 360-degree surveys. 
  
  
• Training Resources for Improved Performance
  Based on the assessment and evaluation, PPPM may recommend continuing education, brief and/or ongoing counseling, leadership training, coaching, and/or other resources designed to achieve and maintain improved performance.
  
  
• Monitoring Performance
  When necessary, PPPM also provides on-going monitoring to reinforce and encourage professional behavior and to address any on-going concerns.

Click to learn about other services offered through the PPPM