Problem Partners: How to Deal With a Colleague Who Causes Problems

One of the least appealing responsibilities of physician leadership is managing situations in which a physician partner is creating problems. Nevertheless, it is one of the most important aspects in maintaining a healthy team dynamic. When the behavior of problem partners goes unchecked these situations often grow to negatively impact others and detract from providing optimal patient care on multiple levels. Although little guidance has been given on how to handle these challenging situations, many of the principles of dealing with surgical complications are applicable and may be more familiar to surgeons. Similar to complications, preventing problems by carefully recruiting those who work well with the team is optimal. However, if and when disruptive behaviors occur, providing clear communication and setting well defined expectations is critical to the resolution.