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Dangers of Clinic Negative Talk
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Gossip can have an adverse effect on the workplace, especially for staff and those working in a clinical setting. Best known as negative talk about an absent third party, gossiping in the clinic can cause low morale and a host of other problems.
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One of the fundamental principles of all communications is trust and respect. Avoiding the negative, dangerous outcomes listed below and shifting conversations to a more positive light can create an environment of transparency and strong employee relations. It can also help protect patient outcomes and satisfaction levels.
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Dangers of Negative Patient Talk ​
Damages Relationships
Whether the chatter is about a patient, colleague, supervisor, or another third party, talking behind someone’s back can cause hurt feelings and other issues that can potentially damage a relationship.
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It’s important to create an environment that fosters effective and skillful communication and collaboration as outlined in the AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments. There are few places where the stakes are as high as in a hospital/clinic. Demeaning, belittling, and disrespectful gossip damages relationships, contribute to errors, and adversely impacts providers, coworkers, and patients.
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Lack of Trust and Respect
When there is negative gossip, it’s difficult for trust and respect to flourish. Both the person doing the gossiping and the person listening to the conversation can be perceived as untrustworthy for talking about someone who is not present.
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Specifically, for skilled communication to thrive, it is important to center on three key areas:
• Focus on solutions and achieving desirable outcomes
• Protect and advance collaborative relationships among colleagues
• Invite and hear all relevant perspectives
As in other aspects of life, it’s best to focus on taking the ‘high road’ with our conversations.
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If gossip exists, it should be focused solely on celebrating those around us and recognizing their contributions in a positive way. The litmus test for gossip should be, ‘Would you be proud to share what you are saying with the person you are discussing?’ Then it’s worthy of sharing as positive gossip.
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Possible HIPAA Violations
Employees disclosing patient information is the most common violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In their 2016 list of the most common HIPAA violations, they explain that employees' gossiping about patients to friends or co-workers is a violation that can lead to significant fines.
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Moving sensitive conversations to private areas and avoiding sharing specific patient information while in a public area such as the MA station is a critical component of avoiding HIPAA violations.
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But talking about patients isn’t the only problem. Speaking badly about fellow staff or other healthcare professionals and administrators doesn’t look good for the clinic.
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Gossip Can Be Good​
Research has shown that some gossip may actually have positive effects on camaraderie within an organization. Gossip can help to relieve some of the emotionally charged situations that occur in multifaceted relationships with patients or other employees. Staff often use gossip to express some of the deepest emotions about patients and fellow workers and gossip has been considered a form of emotional support and a way to relieve stress.
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Replacing gossip with forms of more positive, inclusive communication is a great way to change the direction of a conversation that may be perceived as negative.
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