Is Verbal Abuse an Issue in The Heart Room?

Readers Comment:  “This is so necessary to discuss in our very small community. There is strength in numbers and unfortunately most perfusionists can easily find themselves isolated and feeling alone in their situation. Thank you for bringing this topic to light.”

 

Editor’s Note:

 

It’s a reasonable question– as it occurs on a daily basis from what I have seen- I have pumped at 48 Hospitals- soon to be 49- I don’t expect any change at the next place. When I take assignments- the first thing I usually hear- to “sell that assignment” is- “The surgeons aren’t too bad”

Wow! What a stellar endorsement- and how much fun does that sound???  

Personally? I’m sick of it- and IT NEEDS TO STOP

Its Classic- Was just texting a friend of mine in SD Cali- and this is how she described her frame of mind in terms of what she expects for tomorrow’s less-than-stellar advertised case…  A picture of her getting punched in the face.  Who deserves that?  Especially at our level of education and professional commitment? 

 

Anonymous Responses: Ripping off the band-aid …

 

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• Frank Aprile, I commend you for posting this and developing a survey. Thank You. As usual, your writing is stellar: bold, relevant and from the heart. Your experience is articulated into a project to motivate all of us to make a difference for ourselves, for others, for our profession and therefore our patients. Thank You.

 

• I was put in a situation with a male coworker where he was able to RAPE and physically beat me in my own vehicle and then use it to hold over me so I couldn’t tell anyone. He was best friends with my boss, and would intentionally lie/create situations to ensure I was seen as a failure. My own boss was emotionally abusive due to this. He was so cruel, so mean that before I finally quit- I considered suicide. It was truly that bad. I didn’t even know who I was anymore.

 

• Boss would verbally abuse juniors (self included) in OR . I confronted him in his office and bluntly stated that he would get a taste of his own medicine in public. Abuse stopped . I progressed in my field and left after 8 years to start my own center

 

• I went to human resources. I was placed on a PIP that was totally subjective; after discussing it with an employment attorney who called it a shameless ploy to create a paper trail, I quit

• I quit my job & took early retirement due to the treatment of one of 4 emotional abusers.

 

• The MD who attacked me professionally & personally is supposedly a pillar of the community and cultivates a holier-than-thou persona. He utilized a patient of his to send e-mails to my boss, other people in the office and other MDs questioning my competence and said that “something is wrong with her”. What was wrong with me, in his eyes, is that I didn’t fall head over heels in love with him. He’s on his 4th marriage and feels he’s god’s gift to humanity. I ended up quitting because the stress was just too much. Nurse’s bully too but doctors hold all of the power and they know it. Once you’re a target, they don’t stop until they make you cry so you’ll be fired for incompetence, or they make you quit. BTW I’m an RN/Administrator with 15+ years of experience

 

• I Resigned

• I quit and moved my entire family.

 

• Made to feel incompetent and worried about being fired because of my gender by a cardiac surgeon that was backed heavily by admin. Several staff he brought to the hospital commented “dr xyz does not like female perfusionists” A sales rep said “boy I feel sorry for you girls and the way he treats you” as the sales rep witnessed how this dr was treating the female ccp on the case that day and this rep was making money with a new account and still saw the truth about the doctor…met a perfusionist that had worked with this dr during his training and confirmed “dr xyz is harder on female perfusionists” I voiced concerns with the periop director because our perf dept was 80% female…her response to my concerns was basically keep quiet or you’ll be accused of slander…It is mind boggling that this behavior is tolerated in 21st century healthcare.

• I have been a ccp for almost 28 years and I have worked with many cardiac surgeons. It seems as though these tyrannical cardiac surgeons are more of a recent development and are more the norm than exception. I never encountered these beasts in the first 21 years of my career. I remember the days of respectful surgeons that valued perfusion’s contributions and input regardless of their gender. I miss the days of working with these charismatic surgeons that inspired you to want to do your best instead of beating you down because of your gender or personality conflicts or any other lame reason they have. These difficult surgeons are workplace bullies and they are creating hostile working environments and it is tolerated by hospital administration. Maybe joint commission needs to look at this and how it can influence patient outcomes. They should be looking at this sort of thing and not worry about what kind of scrub hat is worn in the OR. I wonder how a patient would feel about their physician if they knew how they acted when the gown and gloves go on.

 

• Eileen Heller-Stading There is so much more of this that continually goes on….. and some think it is a right…of some sort. You may just be scrapping the tip of the iceberg…

 

• Thank you….can’t wait to see the results.

 

• It’s something that has always bothered me that the abuse by physicians are just accepted with a ” well that’s how they are” attitude. Hopefully the results of this survey can lead to sonething bigger, forcing some introspection. Unfortunately untill administrators and joe public stop treating the as gods feeding the complex, I don’t see a change soon.

 

•  I honestly feel that the perfusion contract company mentality has given many physicians the green light to degrade and belittle perfusionists. I have been told of several instances in which there were conflicts between surgeon/perfusionist at contract perfusion hospitals. The answer to the conflict: terminate the perfusionist to appease the surgeon and keep the account. It’s incredible how difficult it is to be a practicing perfusionist today. Many are treated as disposables despite the looming perfusion shortage. The short staffing is passed on to the team to suck up with no compensation and no work/life balance. I’m hoping I can survive the few years I plan on working.

• The job is inherently stressful enough without adding the layer of verbal abuse and feelings of disrespect. Lately I went to surgeon to discuss an applicant for new position. He told me he’d give me ten seconds to tell him.

 

• Hannes Engelbrecht Glad someone has brought this to light. Currently working with a fantastic team/family, differences are addressed in a respectful way as equals. Over the years I have worked with some people that I wouldn’t want to work with again even for double the salary. Some argue it’s because they are stressed and care about the pt wellbeing, though I would bet my lifesavings that more often than not it has in some way negatively impacted the pt. Especially with juniors or “lower ranked” roles in theater I have seen people hiding mistakes by not speaking up, because, although they are not at fault, they will get verbal abuse due to frustration caused by often a small but important problem eg. Air in venous, accidentally contaminated a product while opening. High line pressures, cannula positioning etc

 

• The government fails victims just as much as the rest of society. I took all of the correct measures to ensure the proper consequences for the rapist. Immediately called 911, went to hospital and got rape kit, pressed charges. I was treated as the guilty party by the grand jury. Questions were asked as to find my motive to “ruin this guys life.” Such as have I been to counseling and did I have a boyfriend. He was ultimately found not guilty. He couldn’t say it didn’t happen because of the rape kit. He said I wanted it and they believed him over my story, obvious signs of fear, and tears.

 

• I had a female chief perfusionist that constantly talked down about me and made comments to other staff about my family, children, marriage, etc. She claimed I was jealous of her but in reality she must have been jealous of me. Her reputation in perfusion is well known and I have never heard anyone say one nice thing about her except for the two women that are her brownies. I’ve heard about her wrath and lack of professionalism from many perfusionists.

 

• Long term abuse by particular surgeon and particular anesthetist who intimidated the entire team around them.

 

• I kicked a trash can across the room after a surgeon yelled at me one time. I told him I was turning off the pump sucker since protamine was more than 50% in. He yelled at me saying HE WOULD TELL ME WHEN I COULD TURN OFF THE SUCKER! He wasn’t even using the sucker at the time and there was not a bleeding problem. He told me to turn it off 5 seconds later.

 

• Transferred to another academic hospital in Capetown. Fantastic team, where everyone is treated with respect and differences are addressed in a professional and positive way to maintain the good team spirit in our cardiac theater

• I was planning to work 3 more years but I really can’t stand my job anymore. Trying to hang on for another year. Can retire anytime but financially best in 3 years. I may have to scale back financial quality of life due to being unhappy at work.

 

• You won’t find many comments here simply because the Medical Profession does not condone or encourage speaking honestly. I no longer have the sword of Damocles suspended over my neck waiting to snuff out my Professional life as so many of you do. Although, I’ve never let that threat tie my tongue during my career, I will respect the right of others to remain silent. First, I’ll state what we all know. Cardiac Surgery is a tough business. Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Perfusionists, Scrub Tech’s, and Nurses are all under enormous stress from the need to approach perfection on a daily basis. Those demands are requisite, and anyone who has pursued any of the aforementioned Professions knew the demands on entry to the Profession. When the life of a patient is dependent on exacting execution of tasks, there is little room for error. I have, on occasion, seen those who are not up to the task and quite honestly, do not belong in such a demanding environment. That includes all of the Professions I mentioned above. However I have to say that, for the most part, all of the Professionals I have dealt with during my career fell within the boundaries of competence. But NOT all! This begs the question. What is suitable behavior, including speech, when the performance of a team member is not up to expectations? I was fortunate to have worked with individuals who were excellent in capability and comportment. I was also cursed with having to work with those whom I believe had no business being in an operating room, regardless of their Credentials. Dr. Cooley had a wonderful saying, “Just because you have track shoes doesn’t mean you get to run in the race”….I couldn’t agree more. Interestingly, those who demonstrated excellence were also the ones who capably handled any untoward events during a procedure without losing their cool. They had “the right stuff.” That doesn’t mean they never elevated the tone of their voice to highlight a sense of urgency. It means they never crossed that obvious line that is apparent to all, and engaged in derisive, insulting, demeaning verbal and very audible attacks on the intelligence or capability of other team members. Unfortunately there were a minority of Professionals who did cross that line, and I never understood how that behavior was so easily accepted and allowed to be repeated over and over and over. Institutional politics plays an enormous role. Tradition and culture even more so. Many a department has had a plethora of high performing individuals who simply have resigned and decided to work elsewhere rather than risk being placed in a room with a Surgeon who, from the beginning to end of a procedure, engages in personal attacks, insults and disrespectful behavior. The behavior of that type of individual, no matter how skilled, results in a steady turnover of other team members which negates any advantage his/her technical skills offer a patient. Make no mistake, turnover hurts patient care and outcomes. This behavior is not limited to members of the Operating room. For Physicians, It begins in Medical School and continues through Residency and into Practice. Other Professions, model the Physicians that they have worked with who exhibit this toxic behavior and become the vectors that make it self perpetuating until the entire Medical environment has a degree of contamination, and if not corrected becomes part of the Institutional genome. So, what does one do? First, no matter which rung you occupy on the Professional ladder, you are not helpless. You have recourse and you must set aside your fears and recognize that inaction will only sentence you to a work environment that is worse than unemployment, it literally may cost you your health, sanity, or life. Fight back! Secondly, a greater emphasis on cultivating a team environment in Cardiac Surgery is desperately needed in some institutions. The medieval hierarchy that persists in some Institutions where the all too frequent form of communication is sarcasm and insults needs to be snuffed out with the urgency one would take in isolating and attacking a lethal virus. Because the results are no less deadly. The term “disruptive” has become part of the vernacular of the business world over the recent years. Are any of the Professionals in Medicine really happy with what they deal with on a daily basis? Some of you are, but far, far too many are living lives of dissatisfaction and frustration. So many of you really are the best and brightest, and collectively you have unrealized power to alter the present trajectory of Medicine. ROCK THE BOAT!….become disruptive.

 

• One surgeon that I worked with blatently would degrade anesthesiologists and Perfusionists. He would make racial comments, be passive aggressive and generally demeaning. I chose not to work at that hospital long term. The surgeon was eventually terminated for bad behavior.

 

• Don’t engage or participate in the bantering

 

• Admin in hospital I work at is afraid surgeon. Surgeon is recovering alcoholic and uses it for excuses. Surgeon needs a month long attitude adjustment camp

 

• When I was doing vacation relief at a hospital, it became clear that the surgeon wanted to test me to see how much abuse I would take. I told him that I would be working with him for the next month and we could work together as team members or we could work against each other. But that we still had to work together. He started treating me appropriately from that moment forward.

 

• Took mindfulness training and psychological self help to try get my own head around work stress and abuse. Was of significant help in easing my own psychological trauma.

 

• Not all surgeons/doctors. Many are very pleasant. Just a proportion of bad apples.

 

• Surgeon enjoys being the saver of the day. Sets every one up for failure with psychological b s questions only to make himself look better smarter or let’s people have when they have no answers or gives the wrong answers