How an Institutional Program Aimed at Identifying Unprofessional Behavior can Contribute to Individual and Collective Well-being

Unprofessional physician behavior negatively contributes to patient outcomes, team-based clinical performance, and malpractice claims. The Vanderbilt Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy (CPPA) provides education, data, and processes to identify physicians with professionalism concerns in over 200 hospitals across the US and abroad. Patient and coworker observations of unprofessional behavior are non-judgmentally presented via “cup of coffee” conversations to the identified physicians with the goal of reflection and self-correction. Collegial conversations offer opportunities to gain insight and offer supports for wellness concerns or difficult circumstances.

When a physician continues to violate professionalism standards, it can sometimes indicate the presence of stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, other mental health conditions, or in some cases cognitive concerns or impairment.

Addressing unprofessional physician behavior can improve delivery of reliable and safe patient care, team performance, and malpractice risk. A more collegial work environment can foster the well-being of other team members and promote psychological safety.

This presentation will review data surrounding unprofessional physician behavior and its negative impact on the healthcare system. It will describe reporting systems, resultant data, and the non-punitive approach to delivering these concerns to physicians. It will review programmatic experience identifying well-being concerns and impairment, the impact on well-being of identified physicians, and the stories of those who have benefitted. The presentation will include interactive polling and a Q&A session with CPPA faculty who with experience at different levels.