Disruptive Physician Behavior: The Importance of Recognition and Intervention and Its Impact on Patient Safety

Outlines personality traits and disorders, psychiatric diagnoses, and even medical conditions (e.g. age and disease-related cognitive impairment). Proposes HCO responses. While the vast majority of physicians are well-behaved, it is important to acknowledge that disruptive behaviors can occur in the healthcare environment. Such behaviors have a major impact on workplace culture and patient safety and must be recognized early. Hospital executives and leaders must ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken— before the quality of patient care is affected and before lives are endangered.