Addressing Accountability: Working with Faculty, Staff, and Learners Who Fall Short of Expectations

Description: Accountability is a pillar of professionalism across the spectrum of medical education and practice; faculty, staff, and learners must reliably follow through on required tasks. Addressing lapses in accountability is critical to maintaining a culture of professionalism; however, strategies for remediation of professionalism may vary based on one’s individual role (faculty, staff, or learner). Effective remediation may also require sensitivity concerning an individual’s personal circumstances.

In this session, facilitators will engage participants in case-based discussions to develop skills to navigate lapses in professional accountability.

Introduction (5 minutes): Facilitators will provide background regarding the importance of accountability to health care quality and will share their own experiences in addressing lapses among a range of medical trainees and professionals.

Case-based discussion (40 minutes): Participants will engage in small group discussions regarding professional accountability, based on three true-to-life cases. Each scenario will depict a specific lapse in accountability by either faculty, staff, or learners. Participants will consider an approach to each case, using the following framework: A) Why is this behavior problematic? B) What factor(s) may have led to this behavior? C) What intervention(s) should be recommended to address or remediate the behavior?

Wrap up (15 minutes): Participants will discuss similarities and differences in the approach to each case, based on the role of the individual involved. Facilitators will close the session with a summary of the lessons learned as applies to addressing lapses in accountability across the spectrum of medical education and practice.