Yes, the fact that we’re tackling this issue again here at #HealthXPh makes you wonder- what’s with conflict resolution very difficult in healthcare? The last #Healthxph chat on this topic gathered significant feedback from within and outside the healthcare community. The chat itself yielded quite a number of responses and tips from our community. Yet, the act of conflict resolution pains me more than the other desirable traits of a physician .
Conflict is nothing new in healthcare. The myriad of factors and stakeholders interests in complex systems like healthcare meant resolving conflicts is never easy. Conflicts- with patients, colleagues and the institutions we’re in also negatively impacts desired health outcomes! So let’s dig in deeper into conflict resolution this Saturday 9PM Manila time.
T1. How do you resolve conflicts with patients?
This may sound “what the ???” but disagreements between healthcare professionals and patients do happen. This could either be the silent and slightly verbal “argh huh, yes yes doc!”to sometimes frank fisticuffs. In some institutions, these are as entertaining and depressing at the same time.
T2. How do you resolve conflicts with colleagues?
Healthcare professionals are one of the most respected and patient individual on earth. They live through years of continuous stress and stressful working environment and have developed adaptive coping abilities for this. Our hippocratic oath “prescribed”a positive collegial existence with peers. Yet, we are just humans. Resolving conflicts with colleagues one of the hardest if not the hardest conflict resolution in healthcare.
T3. How do you resolve conflicts with superiors in the academe or institutions?
Take note, storming out doesn’t count as “conflict resolution”. Conflict resolution in this case maybe as mild as negotiation for better work environment, the more extreme as work stoppage and boycotts. I’ve seen many of these in our healthcare system I’m curious if this resolves anything? Your thoughts?
Join #HealthXPh on this conversation at “X” (twitter) this Saturday Jan 18, 2025 9PM Manila time, with this topic, “Contextualizing Conflict Resolution in Healthcare”, with these guide questions. Don’t forget to append “#HealthXPh” to every tweet/answers you make in the conversation. See you!
