Monday, August 15, 2016

What Do You Do With the Infectious Diseases Physician Who is Noncompliant With Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Guidelines?

What do you do when the infectious diseases physician is noncompliant with antimicrobial stewardship program guidelines?

Dealing with it is not easy, as discussed, here.

I personally fancy the peer-to peer comparison, demonstrating how the physician in question is a true outlier. I find that this works when comparing surgeon to surgeon surgical site infections data or unit to unit comparisons of infection prevention process and outcome measures. No one likes to look 'bad' amongst peers or wants to be seen as that guy.

Inviting the outlier infectious diseases physician into the antibiotic stewardship management process, as part of the 'team', may also lead to a practice change.

Last, administrative controls may be required, i.e. a letter or suspension coming from upper level management. In my mind this is the nuclear option and takes an administration with resolve.