Joint Commission Targets Workplace Violence in Healthcare
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — The Joint Commission launched an online resource center dedicated to preventing workplace violence in healthcare settings. The resource center, called Workplace Violence Prevention Resources, provides a broad range of resources for healthcare organizations, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
The Joint Commission developed the resource center in response to statistics showing higher rates of workplace violence in healthcare compared to other settings. Joint Commission-accredited healthcare organizations and advisory committee members — including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, risk managers, and other professionals with hands-on experience addressing worker and patient safety — also identified the need for additional resources to help mitigate workplace violence, which includes any verbal, written, or physical aggression against healthcare professionals, patients, visitors, or others in a setting where care is delivered.
“Many of us in healthcare have witnessed or experienced workplace violence firsthand,” said Ann Scott Blouin, executive vice president of Customer Relations for the Joint Commission. “Workers in healthcare are five times more likely to be victims of non-fatal assaults or violent acts than the average worker in all other occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a result, it is critical that we share key resources with those in the healthcare community to help them prepare for and address, as well as hopefully prevent, this type of unfortunate situation from taking place.”
Workplace Violence Prevention Resources includes easy-to-access policies, procedures, guidelines, research, case studies, white papers, toolkits, and other materials focused on workplace-violence prevention and preparedness. Topics span violent and criminal event preparedness and prevention, active shooter situations that occur in the healthcare setting, workplace-safety measures, behavioral threat management and emergency operations planning, and incivility and bullying.
The collaborative resources come from the Joint Commission, federal and state agencies, professional associations, and healthcare organizations. Designed as a living library, the resource center encourages contributors and others to share their materials for inclusion on an ongoing basis.
The resource center aligns with the Joint Commission’s mission and vision to continuously improve patient safety and quality of care, as well as its alliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to protect healthcare workers’ health and safety. For more information, click here.