Intimidating and disruptive behavior can occur at any level in a healthcare organization. Often, the more subtle forms of intimidation – insidious intimidation – are harder to recognize and address than overt ones. Unfortunately, insidious intimidation poses a significant risk to patients, as recognized by the Joint Commission in a 2008 sentinel event alert titled “Behaviors that Undermine a Culture of Safety.” Nevertheless, organizations continue to struggle with this dangerous behavior.

In this program, two key experts reveal how organizational systems enable insidious intimidation and tell how to recognize the threat. Approaches to raising workplace awareness so healthcare leaders can empower employees at all levels to stand up for change are further discussed.

By the end of this self-study learners should be able to:
• Describe behaviors associated with insidious intimidation in the workplace;
• Identify how organizational systems issues potentiate and perpetuate insidious intimidation;
• Examine options for handling insidious intimidation and how to affect positive change within an organization.