California state law now requires California healthcare facilities to have plans to protect clinicians from workplace violence.
The mandate went into effect April 1 and applies to all acute-care hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities in California. It is part of a law that passed in 2014, reports Modern Healthcare.
Modern Healthcare reports, "Under the law, providers must assess and identify areas in which employees are vulnerable to violence. Education and training must also be given to everyone that works at a facility including physicians.
The training must include how an employee can recognize potentially violent situations, strategies to avoid physical harm, how to report violent incidents to the employer, and any resources available to employees for coping with violence like critical incident stress debriefing or employee assistance programs. "
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health will enforce the mandate, and providers can be fined if they are in violation.
Workplace Violence Prevention Plans Required at California Hospitals
