By: Carrie L. Jones

Disruptive behavior in healthcare settings diminishes employee morale and collegiality and negatively impacts patient safety and quality of care. The Joint Commission previously noted a significant breakdown in team communication resulting from poor behavior and identified a clear link between disruptive behavior and medical errors and other adverse patient events. (Sentinel Event Alert 40: Behaviors That Undermine a Culture of Safety, TJC, June 18, 2021.) The American Medical Association Code of Ethics defines disruptive behavior as “… any abusive conduct, including sexual or other forms of harassment, or forms of verbal or nonverbal conduct that harms or intimidates others to the extent that quality of care or patient safety could be compromised.”