Appropriate Behavior in Medicine (Professionalism Reporting)
Reporting Unprofessional Behavior, Mistreatment
Professionalism is a set of observable behaviors that are animated by the humanistic virtues of altruism, respect, integrity, striving for excellence, and empathy. Professionalism is a core competency, along with medical knowledge, patient care, and others. CMSRU students demonstrate their professionalism in curricular and extracurricular school activities and in the wider world.
CMSRU is dedicated to maintaining a compassionate and supportive environment for learning and clinical care. This requires a mechanism to deliver constructive feedback, and we have created two channels of reporting—one for concerns about professional behavior and one for mistreatment.
What is the difference between unprofessional behavior and mistreatment? Mistreatment is always unprofessional, but unprofessional behavior can take forms that do not involve mistreatment.
Examples of mistreatment include deliberately humiliating or embarrassing someone in public, threatening or causing physical harm, sexual harassment or assault, discrimination or making offensive comments based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics, and more.
Unprofessional behavior that is not necessarily mistreatment includes unexcused absence or lateness, failing to prepare, disregarding assignments, dressing inappropriately, lying, violating patient confidentiality, failing to show compassion or respect, and more.
In general—but not always—mistreatment occurs along a power differential, whereas unprofessional behavior can occur at any level of a hierarchy.
CMSRU encourages everyone to report concerns about unprofessional behavior and mistreatment, and all reports are investigated promptly. We also encourage reporting for exemplary behavior. Reports can be filed anonymously or with the reporter’s signature. If included, the names of reporters are kept confidential, and investigations are often aided by the ability to contact reporters for clarification.
We have created an email for professionalism reporting, like mistreatment (professionalism@coopermed.rowan.edu).
Elements of Professional Conduct
Students will show commitment to the profession of medicine and its ethical principles. As delineated in our medical education program objectives, they will
- Demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect for others.
- Respect patient confidentiality, dignity, and autonomy, and maintain respectful and ethical interpersonal relationships.
- Show responsiveness and personal accountability to patients, society, and the practice of medicine.
- Advocate for patients' interests and the healthcare of others.
- Recognize and manage personal limitations, including awareness of personal well-being and of strategies and resources to address burnout.
- Incorporate the principles of medical ethics, including avoidance of conflicts of interest, into the care of patients.
- Recognize and address disparities in the distribution of health resources and advocate for equitable access to care.
- Recognize and address personal biases, those in others, and in healthcare delivery.
Reporting Exemplary Professional Behavior
Students and others who show exemplary professional behavior can be recognized publicly through the Edward D. Viner Center for Humanism’s ARISE program:
ARISE Program Launches at CMSRU | Cooper Medical School | Rowan University Anyone in the CMSRU community is eligible to submit an ARISE recognition report about any other member of the community.