[MCOH-EH] [External] Re: prevention/reduction of violence to HCW's in ER's--does signage work?

[Sampson, Deborah]

I think only in about 2 dozen or so. Some states have extended jail time for a conviction without having it deemed a felony. All too many states are silent in the law.

http://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2016/03/is-it-a-felony-to-hit-or-assault-a-nurse.html

That being said, our facility has forged a very good relationship with the police, implemented MOAB training for all personnel, and have a great Security Officer team who are skilled at deescalating situations. We do have assaults, but fortunately, local city police respond when necessary and we have few reportable injuries- but then, I think one is too many.

I recall many decades ago when I was an ED nurse in an inner city ED in the south, assaults happened regularly but we victims were often blamed. City and County police would rarely respond and when they did, unless we pressed charges they wouldn't even speak to the assaulter. Since pressing charges meant leaving the ED to go to the police station, and there were often only 2 RNs on the night shift for a 40+ bed level 3 trauma ED, the choice to leave was unfathomable to me.

I am so grateful that perceptions and support have changed for healthcare staff.

Deborah A. Sampson, PhD, APRN, COHN-S, FAANP
Employee Health APRN
Employee Health and Wellness Services
Southern New Hampshire Health   P.O.Box 2014   8 Prospect Street   Nashua, NH 03060
p(603) 281-8575  f (603) 577-5665
deborah.sampson at snhhealth.org<mailto:deborah.sampson at snhhealth.org>

[cid:image002.png at 01D12056.31ABE440]

I strive to provide high quality service ~ please let my manager, Joanie Basta, know how I'm doing by e-mailing joan.basta @snhhs.org<Jacqueline.Woolley at snhhs.org%20> with your feedback. Thank you!



From: MCOH-EH [mailto:mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] On Behalf Of Timothy Herrick
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 11:47 AM
To: MCOH/EH
Cc: Laura Martin
Subject: [External] Re: [MCOH-EH] prevention/reduction of violence to HCW's in ER's--does signage work?


please excuse my ignorance on this point but is violence against healthcare workers a felony in every state?

Dr Tim Herrick

OHSU

________________________________
From: MCOH-EH [mcoh-eh-bounces at mylist.net] on behalf of Philip Adamo [philipad1 at gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 24, 2017 2:37 AM
To: MCOH/EH
Cc: Smith, Linda J
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] prevention/reduction of violence to HCW's in ER's--does signage work?
Hi dana
We are considering signage and the same issues arise. There also needs to be teeth with the sign and charges must be pressed if someone violates the policy/sign.  Hospitals and the team member who is injured are reluctant to do that.

Phil
On May 23, 2017, at 3:44 PM, Sparhawk, Dana P MD <dsparhawk at Lifespan.org<mailto:dsparhawk at Lifespan.org>> wrote:

Our Workforce Safety Committee is looking for ways to prevent some of the threatening behavior and violence to our front line staff, especially in our emergency rooms.  We have seen examples of signs that have been posted in other ER's stating that violence to health care workers is a felony, or a symbol such as a stop sign with discussions that violence or threatening behavior will not be tolerated.  Although many feel this is a tremendous idea and reflects concerns for employee safety, there are others who are reluctant as they see this as something that takes away from the patient/family friendly atmosphere one is trying to create in a waiting area.

I am looking for other's experiences with such signage or messaging about violence to HCW's, or any evidence that this type of approach helps reduce such behavior.

Thanks

Dana


Dana Sparhawk, MD, MPH, FACOEM| Director, Employee and Occupational Health Services|Clinical Assistant Professor, Alpert Medical School, Brown University| Human Resources |Lifespan
Tel: 401-444-7412 |Fax: 401-444-6310 |dsparhawk at lifespan.org<mailto:%7Cdsparhawk at lifespan.org> |www.lifespan.org<http://www.lifespan.org/>
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