Friday, July 11, 2008

New rule seeks to stymie bullying in nursing homes and hospitals

Workplace bullying and intimidation run rampant in America's hospitals
and nursing homes, leading to preventable medical errors, increased
cost of care and poor resident satisfaction. The Joint Commission wants
to combat this behavior and has unveiled a plan to reduce disruptive
attitudes in all healthcare settings.



The Commission, an organization dedicated to the improvement of quality
in healthcare, released its 11-point plan to eliminate workplace
intimidation on Wednesday. It will take effect on January 1, 2009, as a
rule for all accreditation programs. The Commission is asking
facilities to develop a system of reporting bad behavior, educate staff
on professional attitudes, implement a method of dealing with unruly
physicians and staff, and encourage dialogue between employees.



A recent report found that up to 50% of all nurses experience bullying
in the workplace and that 90% have witnessed an act of intimidation (McKnight's
4/8/08). While physicians are the primary culprits, the report also
indicates that nurses, too, are often to blame for contributory
attitudes. For a full list of the Joint Commission's rules and
recommendations, visit www.jointcommission.org/SentinelEvents/SentinelEventAlert/sea_40.htm.

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