Dealing with patients and employees who seek significance through illness

Some people whom the health care manager encounters--employees as well as patients--seem to find their significance in being ill, partaking of the supposed benefits of being sick. For a variety of reasons, even the attention garnered in this manner may not be enough to meet an individual's needs so the behavior continues and intensifies. There are, however, several reasonable strategies available for dealing with persons who pursue illness for the underlying purpose of gaining attention.