Recommendations from the Stanford Medicine Task Force on Healthcare Professional and Staff Mistreatment by Patients, Families, and Visitors

In response to the increasing cases of mistreatment of faculty and staff at Stanford Medicine, school and hospital leadership asked Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Tait Shanafelt to assemble the Stanford Medicine Task Force on Healthcare Professional and Staff Mistreatment by Patients, Families and Visitors in October 2018.

Over the course of 12 months, the The Task Force comprehensively evaluated this problem and provided holistic recommendations to address the varied forms of mistreatment, including disrespect, verbal abuse, racial discrimination, sexual harassment, threats, and physical violence.

We’re grateful for the important work done by the Task Force. Notably, the implementation of many of these recommendations is already underway across Stanford Medicine. Given the state of our society, this work seems even more urgent and critical.

To learn more about the Task Force and its recommendations, please visit https://wellmd.stanford.edu/mistreatment.html

Tait Shanafelt, MD
Chief Wellness Officer
Stanford Medicine