Policy:       

Over the years we have received occasional concerns expressed regarding how consulting faculty interact with junior faculty.  The concerns expressed relate to perceptions of unnecessarily public and harsh criticism of junior faculty care of Creighton inpatients.  Clearly, the first concern of the faculty in the Department of Medicine is to ensure the highest quality of care for all of our patients.  Nonetheless, we also have a responsibility to treat our colleagues with the appropriate respect and to nurture the professional growth of junior faculty.

Procedures:

1.      The AMA Code of Ethics offers some relevant guidance.  “The primary objective of the medical profession is to render service to humanity…”. “The physician should obtain consultation whenever they believe that it would be medically indicated in the care of the patient….  Consultants should advise the referring physician of the results of the consultant’s examination and recommendations.” 

2.      Of course, occasions may arise when a consultant is in the awkward circumstance of observing inadequate patient care by another faculty member.   Accordingly, our physicians have a responsibility to “strive to expose those physicians deficient in character or competence…”.  In this difficult circumstance it is important for any Department of Medicine physician involved in patient care to strive to provide appropriate care for the immediate patient problem. 

3.      Nonetheless, we believe it will be a rare circumstance when strong public criticism of a junior faculty member or other acrimonious responses by consultants will prove the most effective way to achieve high quality patient care. 

4.      If the consultant feels a Medicine faculty member is refusing to provide adequate care, then the consultant should immediately contact the faculty members’ supervisor (first the Division Chief, then if that individual is not available Dr Rich).  Dr. Rich always carries his cell phone when away from home (402-981-3615) so that he can be reached for any urgent problem.

5.      If the patient is satisfactorily managed we still ask that the consultant share his/her concerns with the Division Chief and with the Associate Chair for Clinical Affairs, Dr. Dennis Esterbrooks.  By this means we hope to ensure a constructive and effective departmental response to patient care concerns and to minimize unnecessarily acrimonious and unproductive conversations between consulting and referring physician faculty.