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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Healthcare
  3. Working with Physicians

You're facing a physician who won't collaborate. How can you break through their resistance?

Encountering resistance from a physician can be challenging, but there are effective ways to foster collaboration. To break through their defenses:

- Express understanding for their perspective to establish common ground.

- Suggest a patient-centric approach as a shared goal that benefits from collaboration.

- Offer concrete examples of successful teamwork in healthcare settings to illustrate the potential positive outcomes.

Have you faced similar situations and found strategies that work? Share your experiences.

Working with Physicians Working with Physicians

Working with Physicians

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Last updated on Feb 19, 2025
  1. All
  2. Healthcare
  3. Working with Physicians

You're facing a physician who won't collaborate. How can you break through their resistance?

Encountering resistance from a physician can be challenging, but there are effective ways to foster collaboration. To break through their defenses:

- Express understanding for their perspective to establish common ground.

- Suggest a patient-centric approach as a shared goal that benefits from collaboration.

- Offer concrete examples of successful teamwork in healthcare settings to illustrate the potential positive outcomes.

Have you faced similar situations and found strategies that work? Share your experiences.

Add your perspective
Help others by sharing more (125 characters min.)
36 answers
  • Contributor profile photo
    Contributor profile photo
    Natt Chongsanguan

    Chief Executive - Principal Rebalance Limited

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    Physicians resisting collaboration? Classic case of “my way or the highway” syndrome. But breaking through isn’t about outsmarting them—it’s about aligning interests. First, validate their expertise; no one likes feeling steamrolled. Then, shift the focus to patient outcomes—because no doctor wants to be the villain in a healthcare drama. Finally, bring receipts: real-world examples where teamwork led to better results. Think of it like convincing a cat to take a bath—you need patience, the right approach, and maybe a little creative bribery (metaphorically speaking, of course).

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    Avtar Dhillon

    Digital Health | Nursing | Health Informatics | Project Management | Data-Driven Healthcare | Population Health

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    Physician resistance is often a symptom of deeper issues—burnout, administrative overload, or past negative experiences with collaboration. Instead of pushing for buy-in, I’ve found that positioning collaboration as a tool to improve efficiency and patient care resonates more. Acknowledging their concerns, showing data-driven benefits, and ensuring the partnership reduces (rather than adds to) their workload can make a real difference.

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    Isabela Castro

    🚀 CEO & Founder | Instituto Isabela Castro | Associate Faculty, Ariadne Labs – Harvard | VBHC Ambassador | Patient Safety & Experience | Dentistry, Aging & Health Systems Innovation

    • Report contribution

    Building collaboration with a resistant physician requires strategic communication, empathy, and shared goals. First, I establish common ground by aligning discussions with patient outcomes and evidence-based practices. Using active listening, I acknowledge their concerns and demonstrate respect for their expertise. Instead of pushing solutions, I ask open-ended questions to encourage engagement. If resistance persists, I involve a neutral mediator or reference institutional protocols to reinforce teamwork. Creating a culture of mutual respect and shared accountability is key to overcoming resistance and fostering effective collaboration.

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    Laura Sedgwick

    Clinical Nutritionist - Nourish your mind and body in a way that works for you!

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    Many physicians are stressed, burnt out and under really strict time constraints. As a natural health practitioner I help educate my patients on how to have conversations with their physicians so that they are respecting their experience but also communicating their reasons for wanting options. This helps to bypass any resistance to collaboration. Short referral letters providing clear evidence also helps. There are many reasons why physicians don't want to collaborate, but most are open to other ideas and a patient-centred approach if you can offer quality evidence and reasoning.

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    Okechukwu Ekemezie

    Cruise Ship Medical Director

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    One thing I have found useful with physicians who won't collaborate during work is to understand them fully and see things from their point of view without any judgement. I have used empathy with good emotional intelligence skills to successfully navigate this problem and get physicians to collaborate with team spirit (we all need this)

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    Michael Loscalzo

    Managing Director at Church Road Associates, LLC

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    sometimes the message delivered by a different messenger works... I have, on occasion, done some research and connected with someone with a different relationship ...i.e. a Residency or Fellowship Faculty member... connect with him or her and "asked for help" .... it sometimes works .....

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    Robin Weston

    Results driven Revenue Cycle Leader with more than 25 years experience

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    Figure out what about the project would be important to that physician and then frame the project from that perspective. Is it the bottom line? Maybe patient access?

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    Prof.Syed Khalid Hasan MBBS MRCS FCPS FACS

    Professor, Dept of Surgery

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    1. I need to find out common subject of interest 2.Start to open discussion about a work that the persons did before and i have also some questions about that 3.To keep the intention back of my mind, by what ways i can made easy and establish rapport 4. Crack the barrier and make friendship

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    Wellisson Farias Pereira

    Biomédico | Histotecnologia Clínica - FMUSP | Analista de Laboratório no Grupo Fleury

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    In the healthcare field, the primary goal will always be the safety and well-being of the patient. With this as the core of a dialogue among professionals, whether medical or not but within this niche, it becomes easy to build bridges between the main interests mentioned above. Using rapport techniques will shift the context of conflicting ideas and create favorable ground for negotiations. It is also true that demonstrating with concrete evidence that the protocols initially rejected are essential can make a significant difference.

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    Dr. Sandeep Kumar Verma, M.D. (Sr. Physician)

    Author - Preventive Care, Understanding Pandemics & First Aid Books | Medical Director | Group Patient Safety Officer

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    Navigating a situation with a physician who is reluctant to collaborate can be difficult, yet a thoughtful and respectful strategy can help overcome their hesitance. Here are several essential steps to consider: 1. Identify the Source of Resistance Determine whether their reluctance stems from time limitations, personal pride, skepticism, hierarchical concerns, or previous negative experiences. 2. Establish Trust and Connection 3. Communicate Effectively 4. Connect with Their Priorities Physicians typically prioritize efficiency, quality patient care, and maintaining professional independence. 5. Maintain Persistence with Adaptability 6. Seek Institutional Support When Necessary 7. Model Collaborative Behavior

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