Docs with Ego's

My entry this week refers to an issue in the interdisciplinary team who work together on inpatient hospital wards. In my limited experience on placements at hospitals, I’ve noticed a trend among most of the doctors – a large proportion of them are really arrogant. It just seems to be a common that most of the registrars and consultants on these wards are intimidating, rude and think very highly of themselves and don’t have much respect for the other members of the interdisciplinary team. They seem to display a belief that they are superior to their colleagues.

I’m aware that I am generalising and stereotyping the medical profession in saying this but it seems that my views are shared by many other students as well as qualified allied health professionals working with doctors. I mentioned my thoughts to my supervisor on my current prac and she replied ‘Welcome to the hospital setting’.

I think this snobby attitude employed by some (not all, but a lot) of these doctors can effect the harmony and effectiveness of the interdisciplinary team. It can result in a lack of communication and interaction between the doctors and nurses/physio’s/OT’s, etc which could be detrimental to the patient. It teaches me to be more aware and conscious of how I interact with the other health professionals because I don’t want to have the same effect on them. This will hopefully mean patients will receive optimal treatment from an interdisciplinary team that really do work as a team.

Does anyone else share my views on this topic? Or have suggestions on how to handle an egotistical doc or any other member of the medical team?