Question

What are the necessary steps that physician leaders can take to address healthcare team conflicts between physicians and other team members?

Answer 1

Healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, caregivers, specialists constitute an integral part of healthcare system. But sometimes disagreements, professionals and ethical priorities may lead to conflict between healthcare team members.

These conflicts results in job stress, job dissatisfaction, negative emotions and disorganised work. This causes negative outcomes.

It is necessary for the physician leader to resolve the conflicts between healthcare workers and built positive relationship between team members.

Physician leader can take following steps to address conflicts:

1. Resolve the issue as soon as possible. The longer a issue stands more harm it will do.

2. Listen to the team members involved in conflict attentively and in a unbiased way.

3. Provide a clear and accurate role to each team member so that the two members do not collide on same working issues.

4. Try to ensure a clear and effective flow of information and communication between team members to avoid misunderstandings.

5. Maintain a positive environment in the team and help cultivate feelings of respect, tolerance and understanding between team members.