Episode 9: Medicine is a Team Sport — Alan Morse, PhD

Psychologist and Coach Alan Morse focuses on assessing and addressing physicians’ problems from individual, team, and organizational perspectives. He suggests that the same analytical skills that physicians utilize to assess patients’ conditions may be applied to one’s self and one’s practice. Understanding organizational culture is a must, and solutions should be viewed through the lens of the team. Hierarchical differences between team members take a back seat to the good of the patients and the harmonious functioning of the team, and these typically align. Sticking points may necessitate that leaders weigh in on potential solutions, as well as modification of policies. Dr. Curious is somewhat skeptical about her ability to implement this approach in her particular practice situation, which is busy and seems hopelessly hierarchical at times. However, she is willing to start addressing her day-to-day frustrations more openly and seems to be gaining comfort with a more active and assertive problem-solving stance. She is encouraged to stay the course in solving problems at the practice level and is beginning to integrate the perspective of organizational management with her own.