Medical Staff Education in Relevant Core Competencies

The general competencies for physicians comes from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Boards of Medical Specialties

• patient care
• medical and clinical knowledge
• practice-based learning and improvement
• systems-based practice
• interpersonal and communication skills
• professionalism

The Joint Commission requirements stipulate that relevant core competencies, namely the last two - interpersonal skills and professionalism - be addressed in the credentialing process. With our expertise, we suggest that physicians with staff privileges become acquainted with several aspects of the workplace bullying phenomenon for compliance with this requirement. An education module would include, but not be limited to: illustrations of physician inappropriateness; hierarchical mistreatment within the profession; impact of intimidating behaviors on colleagues and nurses, pharmacists, technicians, administrators, and non-physician staff; impact on patients and their families; and impact on quality of care.

The purpose is to "civilize" intimidating and disruptive physicians. The challenge is to deliver the education flexibly to accommodate overwhelming schedules. An approach that worked for past clients with similar demands is to videotape the live delivery of a seminar. Then Work Doctor produces a DVD that physicians may be required to view to satisfy a credentialing requirement. The taped session may be viewed at the physician's convenience via DVD player or online, intranet streaming video hosted by the hospital or clinic. The Medical Staff executive can devise a system to record the completion of the requisite education.