Human Resources

Optimizing Performance by Preventing Disruptive Behavior in Radiology

Published Online:Oct 10 2018https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2018180019

Abstract

The authors provide a review of disruptive behavior, focusing on how individuals, health care organizations, and leaders can prevent these unprofessional behaviors and foster a just culture in this regard.

Disruptive behaviors impede delivery of high-value health care by negatively impacting patient outcomes and increasing costs. Health care is brimming with potential triggers of disruptive behavior. Given omnipresent environmental and cultural factors such as constrained resources, stressful environments, commercialization, fatigue, unrealistic expectation of perfectionism, and burdensome documentation, a burnout epidemic is raging, and medical providers are understandably at tremendous risk to succumb and manifest these unprofessional behaviors. Each medical specialty has its own unique challenges. Radiology is not exempt; these issues do not respect specialty or professional boundaries. Unfortunately, preventive measures are too frequently overlooked, provider support programs rarely exist, and often organizations either tolerate or ineffectively manage the downstream disruptive behaviors. This review summarizes the background, key definitions, contributing factors, impact, prevention, and management of disruptive behavior. Every member of the health care team can gain from an improved understanding and awareness of the contributing factors and preventive measures. Application of these principles can foster a just culture of understanding, trust, support, respect, and teamwork balanced with accountability. The authors discuss these general topics along with specific issues for radiologists in the current medical environment. Patients, providers, health care organizations, and society all stand to benefit from better prevention of these behaviors. There is a strong moral, ethical, and business case to address this issue head-on.

^©RSNA, 2018

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Article History

Received: Feb 15 2018
Revision requested: Mar 22 2018
Revision received: Apr 19 2018
Accepted: Apr 30 2018
Published online: Oct 10 2018
Published in print: Oct 2018

Vol. 38, No. 6

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