Easy ways to resist change in medicine

BMJ 2004; 329 doi: 10.1136/bmj.329.7480.1473 (Published 16 December 2004)
Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:1473

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  1. Allen F Shaughnessy, faculty1,
  2. David C Slawson, B Louis Barnett Jr professor of family medicine (dslawson@virginia.edu)2
  1. 1 Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, 100 Hospital Road, Malden, MA 02148, USA
  2. 2 Department of Family Medicine, Box 800729, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
  1. Correspondence to: D C Slawson

    These time honoured techniques will help doctors resist the forces that prevail on them to change their ways of taking care of patients

    Numerous forces have been imposed on physicians to make them change their practice behaviours. Under the guise of “quality improvement,” managed care organisations, accrediting bodies, and the government are meddling in medicine. Even continuing medical education, previously a form of intellectual entertainment or a forum for much needed sleep, has refocused its efforts towards improving the care of patients (figure).


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    Techniques to resist change

    Techniques are available, however, that will allow doctors to practise unimpeded by new information that should induce change. To avoid succumbing to both the inner and outer forces prompting change, we offer the following techniques and methods.

    Don't pay attention

    Get so busy with your practice that you do not have the time to read, attend meetings, understand your …

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