Research

Cooper WO, Doub TW, Hickson GB, Casey VF, McHugh DF, Nonken P, Catron TF, Domenico HJ, Pichert JW. An Effective Program to Reduce Malpractice Claims and Payments in a Large Orthopaedic Practice. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2024 Apr 25. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.23.00973. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38662807.

Cooper WO, Foster JJ, Hickson GB, Finlayson AJ, Rice K, Sanchez S, Smith JC, Dees I, Adler J. A Proposed Approach to Allegations of Sexual Boundary Violation in Health Care. Joint Commission Journal of Quality and Patient Safety. September 2023.

Han M, Hamstra SJ, Hogan SO, Holmboe E, Harris K, Wallen E, Hickson G, Terhune KP, Brady DW, Trock B, Yamazaki K, Bienstock JL, Domenico HJ, Cooper WO. Trainee Physician Milestone Ratings and Patient Complaints in Early Posttraining Practice. JAMA Network Open. April 2023;6(4):e237588.

Leitman M, Muller D, Miller S, Hanss B, Catron TF, Cooper WO, Filizola M. Implementation of an Online Reporting System to Identify Unprofessional Behaviors and Mistreatment Directed at Trainees at an Academic Medical Center. JAMA Network Open. December 2022;5(12):e2244661.

Baldwin C, Hanrahan K, Edmonds S, Krumm A, Sy A, Jones A, Murphy T, Mitchell S, Davidson HA, Thomas J, Webb L, Doub T, Cooper W. Implementation of Peer Messengers to Deliver Feedback: An Observational Study to Promote Professionalism in Nursing. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety 2022 Oct 11.

Trockel J, Bohman B, Wang H, Cooper WO, MPH, Welle D, Shanafelt TD. Assessment of the Relationship Between an Adverse Impact of Work on Physicians’ Personal Relationships and Unsolicited Patient Complaints. Mayo Clinic Proceedings Volume 97, Issue 9, September 2022, Pages 1680-169   

Dmochowski RR, Cooper WO, Hickson GB, Professionalism, Leadership, and a Pilfered Apple, The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, ISSN 1553-7250, August 2022.

Cooper WO, Hickson GB, Guillamondegui OD, Cannon JW, Charles AG, Hoth JJ, Alam HB, Tillou A, Luchette FA, Skeete DA, Domenico HJ, Meredith JW, Brennan TMH, Smith BP, Kelz RR, Biesterveld BE, Busuttil A, Jopling JK, Hopkins JR, Emory CL, Sullivan PG, Martin RS, Howerton RM, Cryer HM, Davidson HA, Gonzalez RP, Spain DA. Professionalism of Admitting and Consulting Services and Trauma Patient Outcomes. Annals of Surgery. 275(5):883-890, May 2022.

Brenner MJ, Hickson GB, Boothman RC, Rushton CH, Bradford CR. Honesty and Transparency, Indispensable to the Clinical Mission-Part III: How Leaders Can Prevent Burnout, Foster Wellness and Recovery, and Instill Resilience. -Part II: How Communication and Resolution Programs Promote Patient Safety and Trust. -Part I: How Tiered Professionalism Interventions Support Teamwork and Prevent Adverse Events. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. February 2022. 

Carlasare LE, Hickson GB. Whose Responsibility Is It to Address Bullying in Health Care? AMA J Ethics. December 2021, Vol.23 :E931-936.

Cooper WO, Lorenzi NM, Davidson HA, Baldwin CA, Feinberg DM, Hopkins J, Spell NO, Uthe CJ, Hickson GB, (2021). Supporting the pursuit of professionalism during a crisis. BMJ Leader: leader-2021-000458 Online first 2021 Aug 12.

Raldow A, Adefres B, Warso M, Shinohara E, Anand S, Domenico HJ, Galloway MB, Pichert JW, PhD, Cooper WO. Unsolicited patient complaints among radiation, medical, and surgical oncologists. Cancer. 2021 Mar 16.

Dambrino RJ, Zuckerman SL, Guidry BS, Domenico HJ, Thompson RC, Galloway MB, Pichert JW, Cooper WO. Do neurosurgeons receive more patient complaints than other physicians? Describing who is most at risk and how we can improve. Journal of Neurosurgery. 2020 July 30:1-8.

Welle D, Trockel MT, Hamidi MS, Hickson GB, Menon NK, Shanafelt TD, Cooper WO. Association of Occupational Distress and Sleep-Related Impairment in Physicians With Unsolicited Patient Complaints. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2020 April;95(4):719-726.

Bachmann JM, Posch DR, Hickson GB, Pinson CW, Kripalani S, Dittus RS, Stead WW. Developing an Implementation Strategy for Systematic Measurement of Patient-Reported Outcomes at an Academic Health Center. J Healthc Manag. 2020 Jan-Feb;65(1):15-28.

Cooper WO, Spain DA, Guillamondegui O, Kelz RR, Domenico HJ, Hopkins J, Sullivan P, Moore IN, Pichert JW, Catron TF, Webb LE, Dmochowski RR, Hickson GB.  Association of Coworker Reports About Unprofessional Behavior by Surgeons With Surgical Complications in Their Patients. JAMA Surg. 2019 Jun 19.

Nassiri AM, Pichert JW, Domenico HJ, Galloway MB, Cooper WO, Bennett ML. Unsolicited Patient Complaints among Otolaryngologists. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019 May;160(5):810-817.

Hickson GB, Peabody T, Hopkinson WJ, Reiter CE 3rd. Cognitive Skills Assessment for the Aging Orthopaedic Surgeon: AOA Critical Issues. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019 Jan 16;101(2):e7.

Cooper WO, Martinez W, Domenico HJ, Callahan ST, Kirkby BP, Finlayson AJR, Foster JJ, Johnson TM, Longo FM, Merrill DG, Jacobs ML, Pichert JW, Catron TF, Moore IN, Webb LE, Karrass J, Hickson GB. Unsolicited Patient Complaints Identify Physicians with Evidence of Neurocognitive Disorders. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018 Sep;26(9):927-936.

Martinez W, Wallston KA, Schlundt DG, Hickson GB, Bonnet KR, Trochez RJ, Elasy TA. Patients’ perspectives on social and goal-based comparisons regarding their diabetes health status. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018 May 21;6(1):e000488.

Wolfe JD, Domenico HJ, Hickson GB, Wang D, Dubree M, Feistritzer N, Wells N, Talbot TR. Characteristics of Inpatient Units Associated With Sustained Hand Hygiene Compliance. J Patient Saf. 2018 Apr 20.

Martinez W, Pichert JW, Hickson GB, Braddy CH, Brown AJ, Catron TF, Moore IN, Stampfle MR, Webb LE, Cooper WO. Qualitative Content Analysis of Coworkers’ Safety Reports of Unprofessional Behavior by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals. J Patient Saf. 2018 Mar 15.

Fathy CA, Pichert JW, Domenico H, Kohanim S, Sternberg P, Cooper WO. Association Between Ophthalmologist Age and Unsolicited Patient Complaints. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 Jan 1;136(1):61-67.

Martinez W, Lehmann LS, Thomas EJ, Etchegaray JM, Shelburne JT, Hickson GB, Brady DW, Schleyer AM, Best JA, May NB, Bell SK. Speaking up about traditional and professionalism-related patient safety threats: a national survey of interns and residents. BMJ Qual Saf. 2017 Nov;26(11):869-880.

Elmessiry A, Cooper WO, Catron TF, Karrass J, Zhang Z, Singh MP. Triaging Patient Complaints: Monte Carlo Cross-Validation of Six Machine Learning Classifiers. JMIR Med Inform. 2017 Jul 31;5(3):e19.

Cooper WO, Guillamondegui O, Hines OJ, Hultman CS, Kelz RR, Shen P, Spain DA, Sweeney JF, Moore IN, Hopkins J, Horowitz IR, Howerton RM, Meredith JW, Spell NO, Sullivan P, Domenico HJ, Pichert JW, Catron TF, Webb LE, Dmochowski RR, Karrass J, Hickson GB. Use of Unsolicited Patient Observations to Identify Surgeons With Increased Risk for Postoperative Complications. JAMA Surg. 2017 Jun 1;152(6):522-529.

Catron TF, Guillamondegui OD, Karrass J, Cooper WO, Martin BJ, Dmochowski RR, Pichert JW, Hickson GB. Patient Complaints and Adverse Surgical Outcomes. Am J Med Qual. 2016 Sep;31(5):415-22.

Webb LE, Dmochowski RR, Moore IN, Pichert JW, Catron TF, Troyer M, Martinez W, Cooper WO, Hickson GB. Using Coworker Observations to Promote Accountability for Disrespectful and Unsafe Behaviors by Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2016 Apr;42(4):149-64.

Kohanim S, Sternberg P Jr, Karrass J, Cooper WO, Pichert JW. Unsolicited Patient Complaints in Ophthalmology: An Empirical Analysis from a Large National Database. Ophthalmology. 2016 Feb;123(2):234-41.

Martinez W, Etchegaray JM, Thomas EJ, Hickson GB, Lehmann LS, Schleyer AM, Best JA, Shelburne JT, May NB, Bell SK. ‘Speaking up’ about patient safety concerns and unprofessional behavior among residents: validation of two scales. BMJ Qual Saf. 2015 Nov;24(11):671-80.

Hultman CS, Gwyther R, Saou MA, Pichert JW, Catron TF, Cooper WO, Hickson GB. Stuck in a moment: an ex ante analysis of patient complaints in plastic surgery, used to predict malpractice risk profiles, from a large cohort of physicians in the patient advocacy reporting system. Ann Plast Surg. 2015 Jun;74 Suppl 4:S241-6.

Cooper WO. He/She Is a Great Surgeon, But….Addressing Behaviors That Undermine a Culture of Safety. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2015 Apr 7;3(3):e358.

Martinez W, Pichert JW, Hickson GB, Cooper WO. Programs for promoting professionalism: questions to guide next steps. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2014 Apr;40(4):159-60.

Talbot TR, Johnson JG, Fergus C, Domenico JH, Schaffner W, Daniels TL, Wilson G, Slayton J, Feistritzer N, Hickson GB. Sustained Improvement in Hand Hygiene Adherence: Utilizing Shared Accountability and Financial Incentives. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. 2013 Nov;34(11):1129-36.

Pichert JW, Moore IN, Karrass J, Jay JS, Westlake MW, Catron TF, Hickson GB. An intervention model that promotes accountability: peer messengers and patient/family complaints. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2013 Oct;39(10):435-46.

Kynes JM, Schildcrout JS, Hickson GB, Pichert JW, Han X, Ehrenfeld JM, Westlake MW, Catron T, Jacques PS. An analysis of risk factors for patient complaints about ambulatory anesthesiology care. Anesth Analg. 2013 Jun;116(6):1325-32.

Webb LE. Standing in the patient’s shoes: medical students take the SNAP challenge. Med Educ. 2011 Nov;45(11):1135-6.l

Pichert JW, Moore IN, Hickson GB. Professionals promoting professionalism. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2011 Oct;37(10):446.

Cooper WO, Gitlin JD. Commentary: charting a course for success: excellence in clinical care and discovery in academic departments. Acad Med. 2011 May;86(5):544-5.

Mukherjee K, Pichert JW, Cornett MB, Yan G, Hickson GW, Diaz JJ Jr. All trauma surgeons are not created equal: asymmetric distribution of malpractice claims risk. J Trauma. 2010 Sep;69(3):549-54; discussion 554-6.

Hayden AC, Pichert JW, Fawcett J, Moore IN, Hickson GB. Best Practices for basic and advanced skills in health care service recovery: a case study of a readmitted patient. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2010 Jul;36(7):310-8.

Stimson CJ, Pichert JW, Moore IN, Dmochowski RR, Cornett MB, An AQ, Hickson GB. Medical malpractice claims risk in urology: an empirical analysis of patient complaint data. J Urol. 2010 May;183(5):1971-6.

Perry JE, Moore IN, Barry B, Clayton EW, Carrico AR. The ethical health lawyer: an empirical assessment of moral decision making. J Law Med Ethics. 2009 Fall;37(3):461-75, 396.

Pichert JW, Hickson G, Moore I. Using Patient Complaints to Promote Patient Safety. In: Henriksen K, Battles JB, Keyes MA, Grady ML, editors. Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches (Vol. 2: Culture and Redesign). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Aug.

Hickson GB, Pichert JW, Webb LE, Gabbe SG. A complementary approach to promoting professionalism: identifying, measuring, and addressing unprofessional behaviors. Acad Med. 2007 Nov;82(11):1040-8.

Hickson GB, Federspiel CF, Blackford J, Pichert JW, Gaska W, Merrigan MW, Miller CS. Patient complaints and malpractice risk in a regional healthcare center. South Med J. 2007 Aug;100(8):791-6.

Moore IN, Snyder SL, Miller C, An AQ, Blackford JU, Zhou C, Hickson GB. Confidentiality and privacy in health care from the patient’s perspective: does HIPAA help? Health Matrix Clevel. 2007 Spring;17(2):215-72.

Murff HJ, France DJ, Blackford J, Grogan EL, Yu C, Speroff T, Pichert JW, Hickson GB. Relationship between patient complaints and surgical complications. Qual Saf Health Care. 2006 Feb;15(1):13-6.

Hickson GB, Federspiel CF, Pichert JW, Miller CS, Gauld-Jaeger J, Bost P. Patient complaints and malpractice risk. JAMA. 2002 Jun 12;287(22):2951-7.

Pichert JW, Federspiel CF, Hickson GB, Miller CS, Gauld-Jaeger J, Gray CL. Identifying medical center units with disproportionate shares of patient complaints. Jt Comm J Qual Improv. 1999 Jun;25(6):288-99.

Pichert JW, Miller CS, Hollo AH, Gauld-Jaeger J, Federspiel CF, Hickson GB. What health professionals can do to identify and resolve patient dissatisfaction. Jt Comm J Qual Improv. 1998 Jun;24(6):303-12.

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Vanderbilt Health Center for Patient and Professional Advocacy

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