Study: Patients more likely to experience complications when surgeons have reports of unprofessional conduct

A recent study published in JAMA Surgery indicates a correlation between collegial reports of unprofessional behavior and a surgeon’s rate of postoperative complications. Researchers collected data on surgeons and patients from two academic medical centers for operations occurring between January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2016. All patients under 18 at the time of the surgery were excluded. All surgeons with less than 36 months of monitoring prior to the operation were also excluded. Approximately 13,700 patients and 200 surgeons were included in the study.

Of the patients, 1,583 (11.6%) experienced complications. Patients whose surgeons had any number of reports of unprofessional conduct from colleagues were more likely to experience a complication, whether surgical or medical. Patients whose surgeons had 1–3 reports filed against them had a 14.3% higher complication rate when compared to patients of surgeons with zero reports. Patients with surgeons who had four or more reports had an 11.9% higher complication rate.

These findings suggest that organizations looking to optimize patient care and maximize patient satisfaction should focus efforts on surgeons who act unprofessionally toward their colleagues.

Source: JAMA Surgery