Fitness for Duty Consultation/Evaluation
The Fitness for Duty evaluation is an invaluable tool that organizations can use when dealing with troubled or disruptive employees as well as assisting other employees transition back to work following a leave of absence. More information is available about Fitness for Duty consultative services.
Consulting and Remedial Coaching for Impaired, Distressed and Disruptive Professionals
For nearly a decade, Dr. Heitt worked with impaired, distressed and disruptive physicians, executives and senior leaders at Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System. As the Associate Director of the internal Employee Assistance Program and an ex-officio member of the Professional Assistance Committee - - a sub-committee of the Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Medical Board - - Dr. Heitt was the chief clinician/consultant for such issues. He brings these years of experience and perspective to each and every consultative and clinical encounter.Much has been written in the literature about professional impairment, and the majority of this has focused on alcohol and drug-related impairment. Professionals can also suffer impairment secondary to psychiatric illness, such as depressive and anxiety disorders, and physical illness or injury, such as traumatic head injury or senility. Even more common are everyday life stressors including relationship difficulties, concerns about children and mourning the death of a loved one; these factors often negatively affect one’s performance.
Separate from these types of difficulties is the behaviorally disruptive professional. A disruptive professional can undermine morale, diminish productivity, increase turnover of staff, pose safety hazards, and generally have a negative influence upon others in the work environment. At its extreme, the behaviorally disruptive professional acts in such a way that others may feel personally intimidated or fear physical harm.
What can be done?
Organizations can seek guidance from Dr. Heitt on how to best handle situations involving impaired, distressed or disruptive professionals. Such approaches should focus on protecting the professional and his/her career, viewing him/her as a valued person and part of the organization’s human capital. In line with this, often policy development and refinement are necessary; Dr. Heitt can assist in this process as well.Dr. Heitt is also available to provide clinical and/or coaching services to the professional who recognizes his or her own troubled behavior, decreased productivity or general dissatisfaction.
Individual Assessment
Professionals who are self-referred or referred by a concerned supervisor, mentor, healthcare provider, family member or friend are scheduled for individual assessments. Such assessments are typically comprised of an individual interview with Dr. Heitt and the gathering of collateral information from the referral source and others who have interest in, and perspective of, the professional’s well-being. Occasionally, questionnaires and/or psychological tests are used to provide additional information to aid in the assessment process. Following the initial consultation, Dr. Heitt provides feedback and recommendations to the professional and, with the professional’s consent, to the referral source as well.
Professional and Executive Coaching
Professional and executive coaching is often focused primarily upon enhancing self-awareness and gaining insight regarding the implications of one’s interpersonal behaviors. Within a coaching relationship, professionals learn about their strengths, weaknesses, skills and limitations; coached professionals are challenged to leverage strengths, acknowledge and confront weaknesses, change behaviors, and achieve measurable results.
Corporate Training, Workshops and Meeting Facilitation
Dr. Heitt assists organizations and the people within them by providing corporate training, offering educational workshops and facilitating meetings and retreats. He has presented on a variety of topics including:- Workplace violence and hostility
- Anger management
- Dealing with the troubled employee
- Interpersonal communication
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Stress management and self-care
- Recognizing emotional distress
- Emotional and physical well-being
- Managing change
- Relationship enhancement
- Learning to better communicate
- Team-building
- Collegiality, civility and professionalism
- Retreat facilitation
To arrange an initial consultation please contact Dr. Heitt directly.