[MCOH-EH] Workplace Violence Response in Hospital Environments

[Galaid Edward I]

Cross posting with OEM List.

We've had a couple of incidents in the last year involving the relatives of patients who have died unexpectedly in our hospitals...both had STEMIs and died in the cath lab.

In this most recent one, which involved a large man screaming, lying in the hallway in fetal position and then making physical threats to the physician who had to deliver the news.  Quite a scene.
Calling the "Code Yellow" and the response was timely, and also included local jurisdiction police.

Once the hospital security and the cops showed up, things de-escalated quickly.

But in the debrief, the wide consensus was that there was no indication in this relative's behavior, prior to getting the news, that he would subsequently respond in such a fashion.  The doctor, who had never met the family before the patient was admitted, felt compelled to stay seated and "be there"....one of the nurses reportedly had to get him out of jeopardy and to someplace safer.

I told the group that if I received some WPV training as part of my annual mandatories, I don't remember anything I may have been told.

I'm requesting any advice, or policies you may have found successful in dealing with this kind of situation.  Do you think that threat responses in healthcare environments are different than others?

Ed Galaid

Edward I. Galaid, MD, MPH
ABIM, ABPM (OM, PH&GPM)
Medical Director, Occupational Health Partners
Roper St. Francis Healthcare   Charleston, SC
Member, ACOEM Task Group on Medical Guidance for Law Enforcement Officers
843-906-0519


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