True or False … in many healthcare facilities, workplace violence is exclusively a security issue? In many instances, the answer would be true. However, in order for healthcare facilities to properly address the issue of workplace violence, a collaborative team effort amongst several disciplines within the healthcare facility needs to occur.
At Metropolitan Hospital Center (MHC) in New York city we have designed a team of managers from the security, safety, risk management, patient safety, quality management, emergency, behavioral health service and human resources departments that convene on a regular basis and carry out specific functions that address workplace violence in our hospital. The team is charged with discussing/reviewing workplace violence incidents, planning and implementing countermeasures, assessing associated risks, drafting procedures and providing guidance and training to hospital staff. The team is dedicated to developing a simplified process that provides education of and awareness to the inherent dangers associated with an acute care healthcare facility, and develops practices and solutions that help prevent and respond to incidents of workplace violence.