Dealing With the Problematic Partner or Associate

Problematic physicians can sap the morale of practice members and rend the very fabric of the group. When problems are ignored, the physicians who cause them become emboldened; their bad behavior persists, and the entire practice suffers. An appropriate employment contract must be structured; this provides a mechanism for the group to take action against a practice member. The development and implementation of practice policies that are in place before they are needed are key to dealing with a spectrum of practice issues. Failure to have prospective policies in place mandates that a practice reacts to a specific concern, and the action taken is usually either too punitive or too permissive. To be effective, policies must have meaningful consequences for breach. Finally, the practice president must confront and deal with the problematic radiologist in the appropriate manner specified by the group-adopted policy.