Protecting Patients Families Staff Addressing Healthcare Workplace Violence

Protecting Patients, Families, & Staff Addressing Healthcare Workplace Violence 2019

Do we agree on the definition? OSHA: Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors. CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Violent acts (including physical assaults and threats of assaults) directed toward persons at work or on duty.

Do we agree on the definition? US Department of Labor: An action (verbal, written, or physical aggression) which is intended to control or cause, or is capable of causing, death or serious bodily injury to oneself or others, or damage to property. Workplace violence includes abusive behavior toward authority, intimidating or harassing behavior, and threats. World Health Organization (WHO): Incidents where staff are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, including commuting to and from work, involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health.

Approximately 75 percent of the 25, 000 workplace assaults reported annually occurred in healthcare and social service settings.

Status Quo

Status Quo

Status Quo

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLANS NOW REQUIRED AT CALIFORNIA HOSPITALS April 3, 2018 THE JOINT COMMISSION ISSUES SEVEN NEW WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS June 4, 2018

OSHA CITES ANOTHER HEALTHCARE FACILITY FOR WORKPLACE VIOLENCE May 24, 2018 “Be aware that OSHA is continuing to cite healthcare organizations for not protecting their staff from workplace violence. In the latest announced penalty, an acute care inpatient behavioral health facility in Bradenton, Florida, is facing more than $71, 000 in fines for “failing to institute controls to prevent patients from verbal and physical threats of assault, including punches, kicks, and bites; and from using objects as weapons. ”

California Hospital Association: California hospitals take very seriously the duty to provide a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors. As a result of SB 1299 (Chapter 842, Statutes of 2014), Cal/OSHA has adopted comprehensive health care workplace violence prevention regulations. Those regulations require hospitals and other specified health care employers to adopt a workplace violence prevention plan that includes risk assessments, reporting and recording obligations, training and other components. This is in addition to other statutory obligations such as Health and Safety Code 1257. 7, which requires hospitals to have a safety and security plan. As the issue of health care workplace violence is complex, it is recommended that hospitals have a multi-disciplinary team working to reduce violent incidents.

Why is healthcare more dangerous than other industries? • • • working with people with violent histories working with people with substance abuse issues lifting, moving, transporting, “touching” patients unrestricted public access working alone poor environmental design and poor lighting work in high-crime areas long wait times and overcrowded waiting room inadequate training and policies

Knowledge Gaps § Violence is vastly underreported § Surveys suggest that roughly 50% unreported § One 2000 study said 70% of violence against nurses goes unreported § Actionable data difficult to find

Why do healthcare workers not report? • • Duty to “Do No Harm” puts patient before caretaker Perception that it’s just “part of the job” Lack of means of emergency communication Lack of training and policies for staff Employees believe incidents are unintentional and unwilling to stigmatize perpetrators/patients Lack of faith in the reporting system Fear of retaliation

SC: No Enhanced Penalties

Legislative Strategy Legislation introduced in SC: Assault charge on ems personnel, emergency room doctor or nurse while on duty, carries an automatic felony charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (max 20 years) Bills introduced in House and Senate: Opposition: Penalty should follow the crime and not be determined by the class of victim…BUT Healthcare is more dangerous than other industries: • H. 3483 (Mc. Coy) • Working with people with violent histories • S. 1096 (Alexander) • Working with substance abuse • S. 1066 (Alexander) • Lifting, moving, “touching” patients

Hospital as a location for increased penalties? Some state laws identify the hospital as where an assault must occur for increased penalties • Example: nc law includes, “Hospital personnel and licensed healthcare providers who are providing or attempting to provide healthcare services to a patient in a hospital. ” Potential legislation could include: • all assaults on a hospital campus, regardless of victim and assailant status • assaults against hospital employees on a hospital campus • assaults against healthcare providers on a hospital campus

communications campaign

Target Audience Message Employees § Your safety is our top priority § Violence is not part of your job § We want you to report incidents Public § Do not harm our employees § Healthcare workers are here to help you § Hospitals are safe zones Community Leaders Policy Makers § Healthcare workers at greater risk § SC one of 3 states with no enhanced penalties for healthcare workers § Cost of violence to hospitals

Types of content §Posters §Flyers §Social Media §Legislation §Op-Eds §Reporting Policy §Webpage §Talking Points §Signage

employee facing campaign

Posters & flyers

Posters & flyers

Talking points for hospital administrators & employees §Workplace violence is a major safety issue in hospitals and health systems across the country. §We Care About Your Safety §It’s Not Part of the Job. §You Report. We Support. §We’re committed to reducing the threat of workplace violence by communicating the importance of protecting our employees.

public facing campaign

Posters & flyers

Talking points for community leaders & policy makers §From 2002 to 2013 workplace violence was four times more common in healthcare than other industries. §South Carolina is one of three states that have no enhanced penalties for violence against healthcare workers. § 80 percent of violent incidents were caused by interactions with patients in 2013. §Of the more than 24, 000 workplace assaults that occur annually, 70% happen in the healthcare and social services field. §The estimated cost of violence response efforts in U. S. hospitals and health systems was approximately $2. 7 billion in 2016.

Social media

Website

WWW. HOSPITALSAFEZONES. COM