Resolving Conflict in the Hospital

Featuring an Interview with Steve Goodstein, HealthyConflicts LLC

Hospitals are among the most stressful environments — and where stress exists, conflict often follows. But conflict, when handled thoughtfully, doesn’t have to be destructive. With the right approach, it can lead to understanding, collaboration, and positive change.

In a recent interview with Teri Dreher, registered nurse and founder of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur, Steve Goodstein, founder of HealthyConflicts LLC, shared insights from his experience in mediation and conflict resolution within healthcare settings.

A former nurse and hospital administrator, Steve has spent years helping professionals, patients, and families navigate complex situations through improved communication and early intervention. Drawing on his background in negotiation and alternative dispute resolution, he emphasizes that the first step toward resolution is often the simplest — pause, listen, and ask the right questions.

“Our goal is to create more space between stimulus and response,” Steve explains. “That space gives us time to listen, reflect, and choose collaboration over confrontation.”

Steve also outlines the four main approaches to conflict — avoidance, competition, adaptation, and collaboration — and encourages healthcare professionals to strive for the “win-win” mindset that collaboration brings.

Even when resolution isn’t immediate, Steve reminds us that the act of trying is progress:

“Making an attempt at conflict resolution is a big step forward.”

You can read the full interview and article, “How You Can Resolve Conflicts in the Hospital,” by Teri Dreher, on The Lake County News-Sun website:👉 Read the full article here.