Organizational Dynamics Around Sexual Harassment Interventions and Occurrences in Clinical Training Healthcare Environments

Abstract

The clinical training of healthcare professionals and the delivery of safe healthcare is reliant on a vigorous organizational safety culture, one where the workplace and medical training environment is free of hostility and harassment. Sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are significant problems for women in healthcare. For all staff members, it is imperative that the hospital has clear, solid policies and, even more importantly, procedures and communication of those procedures for reporting problems concerning harassment. This research inquiry uses case study action research in the context of an OD intervention in school of health science and medical center that provides clinical and medical training and community patient care. The organization has significant organizational cultural issues around harassment. Results indicate the need for more proactive strategies around leadership and organizational cultural change that can apply to medical schools, schools of health science, and medical centers.