Workplace violence against healthcare workers continues to increase, but there are things hospital facilities can do, according to an article on the Health Leaders Media website.
The first step for hospital leaders is knowing the applicable laws in their state. It is also essential for hospitals to have policies and protocols established.
Hospital employees should be required to report workplace violence incidents. Then, after a violent incident, The Joint Commission recommends doing a root-cause analysis to improve anti violence processes and policies.
There also needs to be an emergency response team to enforce these policies. Finally, it’s crucial to balance supporting its employees without creating a chilling effect on those who want to seek care at the hospital when deciding when to press charges.