Physicians & Healthcare
Preventing Physician Sexual Misconduct & Harassment
The healthcare industry is growing in the United States, with spending increasing by 4.6 percent in 2019 to reach $3.8 trillion, according to the U.S Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the healthcare sector now employs 11% of the entire U.S. workforce.
Unfortunately, the Joint Commission, the largest accreditation body for healthcare providers, reports that allegations of sexual harassment between physicians and other healthcare workers is common, with 39% of nurses surveyed in the U.S. alleging an occurrence of harassment in their workplace. For patients, the threat of sexual misconduct in doctor’s offices and medical practices is also present.
Situational Factors
- The patient can be in a vulnerable position: in a state of undress, lacking knowledge, potentially in pain, and placing their trust in the hands of the service provider. This creates a power imbalance between the practitioner and the patient
- Medical services take place in a closed room where the medical professional and patient are the only ones in the room together
- Physical touch is a key aspect of the service
Preventing Sexual Misconduct in Doctor’s Offices & Medical Practices
Claims of an unsafe or hostile workplace can lead to lawsuits, executive firings, employee protests, or walkouts. Aggrieved customers, through social media, can target companies that don’t respond appropriately, threatening scandal or even the company’s viability.
Imagine your patients saying:
- I feel safe here
- I feel supported
- I can trust that I am in good hands
- I love receiving services here
Imagine your managers saying:
- I have the confidence to handle crisis situations
- I have a well-documented, behavior-based report to inform my decision-making
- My team trusts me to be fair and impartial
- I am working with a partner in this process I can trust
Redirect Can Help
- Code of Conduct Development
- Employee and Manager Training
- Audits and Reporting
- Investigations
FAQs
How can Redirect help my medical practice reduce incidents of sexual harassment and misconduct?
- Helping employers develop clear codes of conduct and training programs
- Investigating any allegation of service provider misconduct in a scientific, trauma-informed, and objective manner
- Analyzing data and providing insights on employee behavior and what to do about it/how to address it
- Interrupting problematic behavior before it escalates
What are the benefits of Redirect to my medical practice?
- A safer work environment for service providers and service recipients
- Fewer and less severe incidents of misconduct
- More trust from your customers, which leads to stronger footing for your business
- Better documentation for legal or insurance purposes
- Handling each allegation in a fair and impartial manner
- A standardized approach
Preventing sexual misconduct in the workplace requires a scientific, trauma-informed, and objective approach combined with the right plan.
What’s Your Plan?
Contact Us
If your organization is serious about addressing and preventing sexual misconduct, Redirect can help.