Register for Professionalism Training
BWH continues to conduct mandatory two-hour education sessions for physicians, researchers, residents, fellows and physician assistants on workplace professionalism in order to maintain the best possible work environment for physicians, staff and patients,
“The hospital has started this training for maintaining and improving professionalism with our physicians,” said Robert Goldszer, MD, MBA, associate chief medical officer. “We are thought of as leaders of our health care team by patients, family and staff. We want them to be aware of the highest standard of professional behavior.”
Before completing the sessions, some physicians have questioned why the education is necessary, said Goldszer, one of 33 physician leaders conducting the training. “But most people who go through the training give positive responses and are excited about what they’ve learned.”
The sessions focus on interactions among team members including physicians, residents, nurses, students and colleagues; ways to provide constructive feedback to other members of the team; and e-mail etiquette, among other behaviors. E-mail is not a vehicle for raising complaints about people or accusing someone of causing a problem. It also is not a way to share jokes. “We stress that e-mail is not private,” Goldszer said. “It’s owned by the organization.”
As of January, about 1,700 physicians, students, residents, researchers and physician assistants had been trained. “We feel very close to having a large core group trained,” said Debra Leven, director of Special Projects, adding that BWH aims to train between 2,000 and 2,500.
Training sessions are ongoing, but physicians need only attend one two-hour session to complete the requirement. All new physicians and residents will be required to go through the training as part of their orientation at BWH.
“We want everyone trained,” Goldszer said. “BWH is committed to providing a workplace free from unprofessional behavior, and this is one important way of doing so.”
For more information and to view a list of training sessions, visit www.bwhpikenotes.org/training/training.asp and select Professionalism Program.