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Is Patient Satisfaction More Important Than Protecting Doctors?

It’s 6:45 a.m. Dr. Mirylsa Colon-Martinez walks into the hospital, white coat crisp, hair tied neatly, focused on the surgeries she has lined up. As a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery, her days are long but fulfilling. She’s trained for this. She lives for this.

But today, like too many days before, she won’t just battle complex bone structures or tight OR schedules. She’ll have to brace herself for something darker—a hostile patient or a relative with no boundaries, no filter, and no consequences.

Because in today’s healthcare landscape, for women—especially women of color—in surgery, violence isn’t an exception. It’s a pattern.

Doctor Dialogue: A Conversation That Needs to Happen

Dr. Smith: “Joe, have you seen Dr. Colon-Martinez’s post? It hit me hard. I’ve had angry patients too, but I’ve never feared for my safety like that.”

Dr. Joe: “I did see it. And you’re right. Male doctors like us—we get the occasional verbal outburst, sure. But the sheer frequency and intensity of what women face? That’s next level.”

Dr. Smith: “She talked about restraining orders. That’s not just ‘unpleasant.’ That’s criminal.”

Dr. Joe: “Exactly. And still, she’s told to ‘shush’ or risk her career. Can you imagine? The system protects the ‘client’ at the expense of the talent. That’s the part that gets me.”

Dr. Smith: “So what’s the fix, Joe? We’re not just talking about HR policies here. It’s a cultural reset.”

Dr. Joe: “Start with boundaries. Then build a culture where leadership protects the healer—not just the paying customer.”

Industry Insight: A Broken Culture in Plain Sight

Dr. Colon-Martinez’s post hit a nerve because it reflects a deep-rooted, systemic problem: violence against healthcare workers is rampant—and it’s getting worse.

• According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, healthcare workers experience 5 times more workplace violence than any other profession.

• 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries due to violence happen in healthcare settings.

• Women in high-stakes specialties like orthopedics, surgery, and emergency medicine bear the brunt of it, often facing both gender-based abuse and patient outbursts.

And it’s not just physical. It’s verbal degradation, manipulation, gaslighting, and humiliation—all tolerated in the name of patient satisfaction scores and online reviews.

In the words of one commenter, “The customer is not always right.” But in healthcare? Too often, they are treated as if they are.

Staffingly’s Solutions: Empowering the Frontline

In this climate of hostility and neglect, Staffingly offers a beacon of support through practical, human-focused solutions:

• Talent-Centric Matching: Staffingly ensures healthcare workers are placed in environments aligned with their values, minimizing exposure to toxic or unsupported workplaces.

• Built-In Support Networks: Every placement includes access to mental health resources, legal counsel guidance, and safety planning support—because no one should ever face violence alone.

• Training and Empowerment: Staffingly trains providers on how to set professional boundaries, recognize red flags, and respond assertively—without fear of retribution.

• Advocating for Policy Shifts: By working with institutions, Staffingly helps create safer workplace standards—policies that prioritize the protector, not just the patient.

In a world where doctors are increasingly burned out and threatened, Staffingly says: “We’ve got your back.”

Cost-Saving Benefits: Safety as a Smart Investment

Aside from the moral imperative, there’s a financial case too:

• By reducing burnout and turnover, Staffingly helps practices save up to 70% in staffing and training costs.

• Preventing workplace violence also avoids expensive legal claims, worker’s compensation, and bad PR.

• Empowered and protected staff are more productive, loyal, and focused—delivering better care and building stronger patient trust long-term.

Protecting your people isn’t just ethical. It’s economically sound.

What Did We Learn?

As Dr. Colon-Martinez asked so boldly: Do you protect the staff—or the client? What do you stand for?

The silent epidemic of violence against doctors—especially women—is no longer silent. The comments on her post made it loud and clear: people are done being quiet. Done being scared. Done being sacrificed to appease volatile patients.

It’s time for hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations to rise to the occasion.

FAQs:

What type of violence are healthcare workers facing?
Verbal abuse, threats, harassment, and in some cases, physical violence—often from patients or their families.

Is this more common among women in medicine?
Yes. Women, especially in male-dominated fields like surgery, face both gender-based and patient-driven violence more frequently.

Why don’t more people speak out?
Fear of retaliation, career damage, or being seen as “difficult” keeps many silent.

Are institutions doing enough to protect staff?
Often no. Many prioritize patient satisfaction or revenue over staff safety.

What can doctors do if they feel unsafe?
Set boundaries, document incidents, involve security, and demand support from leadership.

How does Staffingly help?
Staffingly offers safe placements, legal guidance, boundary training, and ongoing support to reduce risk and protect healthcare workers.

Disclaimer

For informational purposes only; not applicable to specific situations.

For tailored support and professional services,

please contact Staffingly, Inc. at (800) 489-5877

Email : support@staffingly.com.

About This Blog : This Blog is brought to you by Staffingly, Inc., a trusted name in healthcare outsourcing. The team of skilled healthcare specialists and content creators is dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services. The team passionate about sharing knowledge through insightful articles, blogs, and other educational resources.