Violence against healthcare workers has risen at an alarming rate. According to a report from National Nurses United, over 80% of nurses have experienced at least one type of workplace violence within the past year.
Today, safety plans are lacking, and healthcare workers’ job satisfaction and loyalty are decreasing. As this gap is addressed, it’s imperative that healthcare organizations focus on the security of their employees. This will aid in staff recruitment and retention and provide the meaningful, quality care patients deserve.
Healthcare institutions face intense competition for time and resources. When investing in safety, it’s important to consider staff feedback, available technologies, and current legislative standards that could impact success.
Enhancing Quality of Care
It’s critically important that healthcare workers feel safe while on the job and workplace safety is a priority within the organization.
A report from Press Ganey found that in a sample of 329 hospitals, nearly two assaults occurred on nurses per hour. Psychiatric units, the emergency department, adult units, pediatrics, and perioperative units saw the most frequent violence. While this is a sampling of the over 7,000 hospitals in the United States, it’s alarming to see the rate of violence healthcare workers are enduring – and it has a direct impact on patients Data from Press Ganey also found that only 68.5% of hospital patients reported feeling “very safe,” in 2023, down from 73.6% in 2019.
In a crisis, every second matters. By having effective and layered healthcare safety plans that include visitor management protocols, incident mapping, and readily accessible technology (like duress buttons), healthcare workers will feel empowered to focus their efforts on their patients and spend less time worrying about their own safety.
Overcoming Staffing Challenges
Staffing issues continue to challenge the healthcare industry. According to the 2023 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report, the average turnover rate for all nurses in 2023 was 18.4%, and nurses working in telemetry, emergency services, and step-down units experienced the highest turnover rates.
This amount of turnover hasan incredible impact on the healthcare institution’s bottom line. In 2023, the average cost of turnover for a bedside RN was $56,300, a 7.5% increase from 2022. This sums out to the average hospital losing between $3.9 – $5.8 million because of staff turnovers.
Fostering an environment of safety indicates that healthcare institutions understand the effects of workplace violence, burnout, and other issues affecting staff. When healthcare workers feel safe and protected it has a significant impact on the quality of patient care and on retention and recruitment strategies.
Adoption of Innovative Technology is Imperative
Post-pandemic, the demand for technology-driven solutions in the healthcare space is omnipresent. Today, there are new technology innovations that can have a significant impact on the healthcare industry’s approach to safety.
The first is the use of mobile duress buttons. These buttons provide healthcare professionals with an always-accessible way to signal for help – however major or minor – and provide responders with the necessary information they need, such as emergency status and location, to aid effectively.
Critical incident mapping is another tool healthcare organizations can adopt to ensure the security of their staff and patients. Through the use of technology, these maps can pinpoint the exact location of an emergency in real-time, facilitating rapid response times from responders.
Lastly, having a system that allows healthcare providers to understand who is in the facility is critical. A comprehensive visitor management system enables facilities to screen for potential threats and proactively mitigate security gaps.
Healthcare Safety Legislation is Gaining Momentum
Due to continued rising concerns about safety in the healthcare industry, the government is taking action. In April 2023, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act was introduced, and if passed, will impact how the healthcare industry approaches safety and security for employees.
It’s never been more critical to have comprehensive safety standards in place within healthcare organizations. While many organizations have put a focus on creating safe working conditions, there is still work to be done.
The industry will continue to face challenges, but healthcare leaders who address the current issues related to safety and security will be able to reduce workplace violence, protect their employees’ health and safety, and mitigate costs.
Andrea Greco
Andrea Greco is SVP of Healthcare for CENTEGIX.
