What are negotiations in a hospital?

Negotiations take place in hospitals and scientific research on multiple occasions every day. Albeit, negotiations should not be reduced to just contracting with potential suppliers of medical devices or laboratory equipment. Instead, negotiation techniques can be applied to any interaction in which two or more parties trying to assert their interests.

In clinical care, this includes, for example, the discussion of bed quotas, surgical capacities, the definition of monthly rosters, further vocational training options, budget negotiations, or the transfer of patients to other wards or other hospitals.

In research, it is standard to bargain about using laboratory equipment, the distribution of third-party funding, the use of assistant staff, the order of authors in scientific publications, or who will be allowed to present the results at the next conference.

Impact of successful negotiations on professional and private life

Negotiations can have a significant positive impact on or delay careers in these and countless other situations. Assuming that you would achieve only 5-10% better results in all daily negotiations, these benefits add up to noticeable improvements over the course of your career and even your lifetime.

Also, successful negotiations may improve your relationship with other people. Unfortunately, physicians and nurses, who are not always used to negotiating, sometimes feel uncomfortable in bargaining situations. They are worried about jeopardizing their relationship with the other party, are scared of negative consequences, or do not know whether they have sufficient negotiating skills. Therefore, healthcare professionals sometimes accept prices and conditions without negotiation and take – usually gnashing their teeth – substantial disadvantages.

On the other hand, there are quite a few situations where you are even expected to negotiate the conditions. If you do not bargain in these expectations, you run the risk of appearing weak in the eyes of your negotiating partners and of losing respect, which significantly impairs the relationship.

A charming and playfully applicable negotiation technique can, therefore, bring you considerable advantages not only in the hospital or in the laboratory but also in your private life. Finally, a natural and friendly, but goal-oriented negotiation style will improve the relationship with your fellow human beings on many occasions.