title: Using Coworker Observations to Promote Accountability for Disrespectful and Unsafe Behaviors by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care team members are well positioned to observe disrespectful and unsafe conduct-behaviors known to undermine team function. Based on experience in sharing patient complaints with physicians who subsequently achieved decreased complaints and malpractice risk, Vanderbilt University Medical Center developed and assessed the feasibility of the Co-Worker Observation Reporting System(SM) (CORS (SM)) for addressing coworkers' reported concerns.
  
  
  METHODS
  VUMC leaders used a "Project Bundle" readiness assessment, which entailed identification and development of key people, organizational supports, and systems. Methods involved gaining leadership buy-in, recruiting and training key individuals, aligning the project with organizational values and policies, promoting reporting, monitoring reports, and employing a tiered intervention process to address reported coworker concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peer messengers shared coworker reports with the physicians and advanced practice professionals associated with at least one report 84% of the time. Since CORS inception, 3% of the medical staff was associated with a pattern of CORS reports, and 71% of recipients of pattern-related interventions were not named in any subsequent reports in a one-year follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic monitoring of documented co-worker observations about unprofessional conduct and sharing that information with involved professionals are feasible. Feasibility requires organizationwide implementation; co-workers willing and able to share respectful, nonjudgmental, timely feedback designed initially to encourage self-reflection; and leadership committed to be more directive if needed. Follow-up surveillance indicates that the majority of professionals "self-regulate" after receiving CORS data.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: Roger R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dmochowski
authors.forename: Ilene N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pichert
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Catron
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Troyer
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Gerald B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Hickson
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007857:Leadership; D008503:Medical Staff; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety; D010564:Personnel, Hospital