Hostility Toward Medical Personnel: Guidelines for Ambulatory Care Leaders to Secure Providers and Employees from Aggression
In the healthcare sector, workplace violence is a pressing issue that affects not only the physical and emotional well-being of staff, but also the overall functioning of ambulatory care organisations. Violence can come from various sources – fellow staff members, patients, or family members – and can lead to serious physical and emotional trauma.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act's General Duty Clause, employers are required to provide a workplace free from recognised hazards causing serious physical harm. This includes ensuring a safe environment for healthcare workers from workplace violence.
To tackle this issue, organisations should establish a zero-tolerance policy against violence towards healthcare workers and enforce it with a strong, consistent response. A culture where providers and staff trust each other and feel safe to report issues without repercussions is essential.
Staff training is another crucial aspect. They should receive training in prevention, early recognition of warning signs, response, de-escalation, self-defense, and reporting of violent situations. Regular staff training will better prepare employees to manage potentially violent situations.
Promoting a safety-focused culture is equally important. Organisations should cultivate an environment that emphasises safety and support, where employees feel empowered to report incidents without fear of retaliation or discrimination.
Management support and response are also key. Leaders should ensure visible and consistent support from hospital leadership and management when incidents occur, addressing employees’ concerns to improve trust and reporting rates.
In addition to these strategies, ambulatory care organisations should implement robust incident reporting systems, enforce zero-tolerance policies, and integrate workplace violence prevention into clinical governance. Adhering to emerging legal requirements, such as the new Virginia law mandating healthcare facilities to track, report, and analyse workplace violence incidents, is also important.
While high-tech security solutions or environmental design adjustments may not specifically address workplace violence in outpatient clinics, leveraging data analytics and technology-enabled reporting tools as part of broader safety initiatives could prove beneficial.
The importance of workplace violence prevention in ambulatory care settings cannot be overstated. Beyond the strategies mentioned in the ECRI Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for 2023, these measures aim to address gaps such as underreporting and cultural barriers that can undermine safety efforts.
Leaders of ambulatory care organisations are urged to download ECRI's Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2023 Special Report or reach out to an ECRI expert for further assistance in preventing workplace violence and other top patient safety concerns.
According to the World Health Organization, between 8% and 38% of healthcare workers may experience physical violence during their careers. Given these statistics, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of healthcare workers in ambulatory care settings. Leaders have a duty to provide a safe environment for patients, visitors, providers, and employees.
- Employers in the healthcare sector should establish a policy against violence towards healthcare workers, enforcing a zero-tolerance approach and fostering a culture where staff feel safe to report issues.
- Continuous training for staff, encompassing prevention, recognition, response, de-escalation, self-defense, and reporting techniques, can better equip employees to handle potential violent situations.
- To create a safer environment, ambulatory care organisations should prioritize a safety-focused culture, cultivating trust and empowering staff to report incidents without fear of retaliation or discrimination.
- In addition to preventive measures, organisations must implement robust incident reporting systems and adjust clinical governance to incorporate workplace violence prevention policies.
- Adhering to emerging legal requirements, such as the Virginia law mandating healthcare facilities to track, report, and analyze workplace violence incidents, is essential to maintaining a safe and compliant workplace-wellness environment.
- Utilizing data analytics and technology-enabled reporting tools could significantly enhance safety initiatives in ambulatory care settings, addressing gaps such as underreporting and cultural barriers impeding safety efforts.
- As mental health is a critical component of health and wellness, beyond physical safety, therapies and treatments should be integrated into comprehensive workplace-wellness programs to support the mental health of healthcare workers.
