Conflict Management: Health Professionals

All organizations and their employees face conflicts. However, the unique context and communication that occurs in health care provides a plethora of distinctive conflict situations that often require sensitive and sometimes rapid management actions. Because health care organizations, providers, and patients are engaged in communicative behaviors, decisions, and actions that involve illness, injury, and potentially life-threatening situations, health professionals face a variety of career-related struggles. Among the key conflicts for health professionals are those related to patient communication, provider-provider interactions, and provider-organizational policies and procedures.