Nationwide List of “Disruptive Physician” Programs

Healthcare organizations nationwide, through their Physician Well-Being Committees

and Credentialing Committees, are searching for appropriate resources to refer
physicians who are exhibit “disruptive behavior” at work. Unfortunately, the
needed missing link is a directory or list of approved programs designed
exclusively to address this issue.

Doctors are a highly trusted and valued group of professionals in all cultures.
They enjoy social respect, but also have significant social responsibilities.
Doctors who fail to maintain professional standards and conduct cause social
concern, because they may do harm to patients if their performance is poor. The
loss of a doctor has effects on service provision, and may be expensive to health
care providers.

Doctors may fail to perform well for a number of reasons. Stress related problems,
depression and substance misuse are known to be common among doctors than other
similar professional groups. One particular manifestation of poor performance has
been described as “disruptive” behavior or unprofessional conduct. These are
situations where physicians are unhelpful, rude, or even abusive.

Intimidating and disruptive behaviors can foster medical errors, contribute to

poor patient satisfaction, increase the cost of care, and cause qualified
clinicians, administrators and managers to seek new positions in more professional
environments. Safety and quality of patient care is dependent on teamwork and
communication. To assure quality and to promote a culture of safety, health care
organizations must address the problem of behaviors that threaten the performance
of the health care team.

Below is a list of established organizations that provide assessment, intervention

and monitoring of “disruptive physicians”:

Program for Distressed Physicians (Vanderbilt University)

The Center for Professional Health offers a three-day continuing medical education
course (CME) to address the specific needs of physicians whose workplace behavior
has become problematic. This course combines didactic presentations, role-play
with focused feedback, group feedback from peers and colleagues, plus review of
workplace/family complaints. Participants will receive training in alternative
behaviors and explore cognitive distortions that relate to their problems. The
course will focus on the problems identified by specific complaints. The solutions
are reinforced by role-play, feedback, testing and group accountability.

An appropriate referral to this course would follow an assessment and evaluation

to rule out medical and psychiatric problems. Contact William Swiggart for
details.

The three-day Continuing Medical Education course follows an assessment. The

course fee is $4000, which includes three follow-up group sessions with course
participants facilitated by course faculty. Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for CME to sponsor continuing
medical education for physicians.

For more details and explanations of course material and assessments contact:

William Swiggart, M.S., L.P.C.

Training Director
The Center for Professional Health
1107 Oxford House Nashville, TN 37232 - 4300
Tel: 615-936-0678
E-mail: CPH@Vanderbilt.edu or william.swiggart@vanderbilt.edu
Web Site: www.mc.Vanderbilt.edu/cph

Anger Management for Healthcare Professionals Program (UCSD)

This course is designed to help those physicians and healthcare providers who have
contributed to a disruptive working environment by way of inappropriate expression
of anger. Conflict, stress and disruption in the hospital and clinic setting
create low morale, heightened rates of staff turnover, and patient safety
concerns.

The Anger Management for Healthcare Professionals program is a small, (6-8

participants), intensive and highly interactive three day course taught by UCSD
faculty from the Department of Psychiatry. Participant coursework in the form of
self-reported inventories of mood and interpersonal conflict as well as reading is
required.
The objectives and goals of this course include: Aiding participants to identify
triggers in the workplace leading to disruptive behavior.

Didactic instruction providing constructive tools and strategies to aid in

diffusing and managing anger and conflict in an appropriate and professional
manner including:

Increasing Emotional Intelligence Empathy Training

Transforming conflict into cooperation
Practicing both behavioral and cognitive strategies, including coping mechanisms,
leading to healthier communication and interactions in the healthcare environment.
Developing a personalized plan of action (Commitment to Change)
PACE provides a dynamic training program that offers professionals an opportunity
to obtain educational information and personalized assessment in a highly
sensitive, supportive and confidential environment away from the workplace.
Participants who successfully complete the course receive 30.5 CME Category One
credits.

UCSD PACE Program

1899 McKee Street, Ste 126
San Diego, CA 92110
Email: ucpace@ucsd.edu

Anderson & Anderson Executive Coaching/Anger Management for Disruptive Physicians™

In response to the need for a one on one individual and sensitive intervention
coaching model for physicians, Anderson & Anderson is now offering a twelve-hour
coaching program with 6 months of aftercare for “disruptive physicians”.

This course is available at our Brentwood, California office or on-site seven days
a week anywhere in the United States. The Anderson & Anderson Executive
Coaching/Anger Management Program™ is listed in the Directory of Physician
Assessment and Remedial Education Programs, Federation of State Medical Boards. No
other anger management provider is authorized to use this model.

Components of the course include:

One day, on-site observation (optional)

Comprehensive Emotional Intelligence Assessments are given at intake, focusing on
the participant’s level of functioning in managing stress, anger, communication
and emotional intelligence.
We do not provide psychological testing, nor is our intervention considered
counseling or psychotherapy. Therefore, there are no stigmas attached.
”The Practice of Control”, the new Anderson & Anderson Physician client workbook,
includes didactic information and exercises focusing on enhancing emotional
intelligence, improving assertive communication, as well as behavioral strategies
for recognizing and managing anger and stress.
Complimentary “Gaining Control of Ourselves” DVD along with follow-up kit.
“Styles of Communication” and “A Day Without Stress” are two power DVDs that are
also complimentary.
Post-test at completion designed to determine the level of change during the
course.
Bi-monthly follow-up sessions are provided for a six-month period when needed.
Our services are provided with the utmost in confidentiality for all participants.

Anderson & Anderson is the Preferred Provider for Kaiser Permanente Health
Maintenance Organization of Southern California.

Anderson & Anderson® Executive Coaching/Anger Management Program

12301 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 418
Los Angeles, CA. 90025
Phone: 310-207-3591
www.andersonservices.com
greynotions@aol.com

Inner Solutions for Stress, Coping and Communication Program

Many healthcare facilities, medical executive committees, and state medical boards
have recently been faced with problems and issues of liability created by the
‘disruptive physician’. The impact and costs to patient care and the health care
team are well documented and have become a growing problem, especially with a
national shortage of nurses. Disruptive behavior impacts staff morale and
increases staff turnover, increases the risk of lawsuits filed by patients and
staff, and contributes to poor communication. All of these factors have the
potential to increase medical errors and negatively affect the quality of patient
care. Unfortunately, much disruptive or unacceptable behavior in the workplace
has a history of being tolerated. Physicians accused of “disruptive behavior” are
often clinically outstanding and offer a much valued service to the healthcare
community. They are frequently in positions of leadership, with little or no
training to fill these roles. Disruptive behavior is often a maladaptive response
to a combination of system and personal problems, as well as skill deficits.

Inner Solutions for Success offers a Stress, Coping and Communication program
designed to teach strategies and techniques to manage anger and frustration,
reduce conflict in the work setting, improve communication skills, and improve
functioning and leadership skills within the healthcare team. We recognize that
most “disruptive behavior” is not psychopathology, but rather a lack of essential
skills needed to be an effective leader of a healthcare team. Our goal is to teach
and support providers in obtaining the skills they need to be more effective, both
with patients and colleagues. The SCC program teaches important skills, but also
provides coaching you as you return to the work setting and begin to implement
behavioral changes.

The Stress, Coping and Communication program is a three-day psycho educational

workshop designed to improve stress management skills, improve communication and
teamwork, and enhance leadership skills. Our SCC program is highly interactive to
facilitate learning and long-term behavioral change. The workshop is conducted in
small groups of 6 to 10 participants and provides an opportunity to practice
behavioral skills. Using introspective techniques, role-playing, and other action
methods, participants develop a personalized plan of action to implement upon
return to their work environment. Prior to the workshop, each participant receives
a 360-degree /multi-source evaluation that includes anonymous feedback from
colleagues, co-workers, and patients. This evaluation feedback and other
assessment tools are used during the workshop and throughout the follow-up period.
The follow-up program also includes approximately 4 hours of individual telephone
coaching for on-going support and consultation. This program has been approved for
38 hours of Category 1 CME*

Inner Solutions for Success

P.O. BOX 210204
Chula Vista, CA. 91921
Elizabeth R. Becker
(619) 370-9679
(619) 421-0964
ebeckerlcsw@yahoo.com

Pinegrove Professional Enhancement Program

2255 Broadway Drive
Hattiesburg , MS 39402
Contact: Greg Phillips
(800) 301-6693
www.pinegrovetreatment.com

Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare

Professionals at Risk Treatment Services
360 W. Butterfield Road Suite 340
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Contact: Mary Pittman
(630) 758-5110 www.emhc.org

The Professional Renewal Center

The Professional Renewal Center® is an international provider of behavioral health

services and consultation for professionals striving to resolve work related
challenges and personal dilemmas.

Our central purpose is to objectively assess and treat disruptive behavior,

professional sexual misconduct, boundary problems, career burnout, psychiatric
illness, compulsive behavior, and substance related disorders.

Our aim is to enable our clients to develop life plans that foster authenticity,
personal growth, and professional integrity.More than 900 clients from 48 states
in the United States, four Canadian provinces, and Hong Kong have come to the
Professional Renewal Center® for assessment and treatment.

Professional Renewal Center

1201 Wakarusa, Suite A-4
Lawrence, KS 66049
Contact: Kirsten Judd
(877) 978-4772 www.prckansas.org

Physicians Development Program

2000 South Dixie Highway., Suite 103
Miami, FL 33133
Contact: Larry Harmon, PhD
(305) 285-8900
www.physiciansdevelopmentprogram.com
Posted by George Anderson, BCD, LCSW, CAMF
Executive Coaching/Anger Management for Physicians
American Association of Anger Management Providers
www.aaamp.org
www.anger-management-resourcess.org
www.andersonservices.com