Violence in America's emergency departments is increasing, causing harm to physicians, staff and patients, according to new research. Nearly half (47 percent) of emergency physicians report having been physically assaulted while at work, with 60 percent saying those assaults occurred in the past year. Nearly 8 in 10 also say that patient care is being affected, with 51 percent of those saying that patients also have been physically harmed.
The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act would require healthcare employers to create a workplace violence prevention plan to help curtail violence against employees. Healthcare workers face rates of violence on the job up to 12 times higher than other occupations, according to the GAO. If passed, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would oversee the implementation of such prevention plans.
Only 29% of healthcare organizations report having a comprehensive security program in place.
Only 29 percent of healthcare organizations reporting having a comprehensive security program in place, and among those that do not have such a program, 31 percent are either not meeting with their executive committee or are meeting less than once a year to give security updates.
People who were bullied at work were 59 percent more likely to develop heart disease or related diseases. Employees exposed to workplace violence were 25 percent more likely to develop heart disease or related diseases.
A study IBM Security and conducted by Ponemon Institute found that the average cost of a data breach globally is $3.86 million, a 6.4 percent increase from the 2017 report.
Locations once considered safe havens such as schools, places of worship and healthcare institutions are no longer immune to acts of violence and, in worst case scenarios, active shooter incidents. In a webinar, Connie Packard, Executive Director of Support Services, Deputy Chief Public Safety for Boston Medical Center discussed ways that the external and internal environment can be used to mitigate risk, tools that are available to help, and standards and guidelines aimed at preventing violence.
