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Joint Commission Addresses Intimidating and Disruptive Behavior in New Standard

July 2008

Citing medical errors, poor patient satisfaction, preventable adverse outcomes, staff turnover and increased costs as consequences of intimidating and disruptive behavior, the Joint Commission has issued a Sentinel Event Alert that outlines the responsibility of hospitals to address the problem.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Joint Commission has a new Leadership standard that:

  • requires hospitals to have in place a code of conduct that defines acceptable and disruptive and inappropriate behaviors; and
  • requires that facility leaders create and implement a process for managing disruptive and inappropriate behaviors.

According to the Joint Commission, a survey on intimidation conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices found that 40 percent of clinicians have kept quiet or remained passive during patient care events rather than question a known intimidator.

Intimidating and disruptive behaviors include overt actions such as verbal outbursts and threats as well as passive activities such as refusing to perform assigned tasks or quietly exhibiting uncooperative attitudes.

For more information on this and other Joint Commission standards, go to: http://www.jointcommission.org/

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