Greetings, Team Members,
During my latest round of Team Member forums held this summer, we spent time speaking about workplace violence, and the toll it is taking on our team and our organization. We heard you!
AS A CALL TO ACTION – WE MUST STRIVE TO CREATE AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE WITH A GOAL OF ZERO HARM TOWARD OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND OUR MEDICAL STAFF!
Since the Team Member forums this summer, we have taken several beginning steps toward changing our culture and creating an organization where workplace violence is not tolerated. These include:
1. Convening a leadership Task Force – with me as the Chair – having the responsibility of ensuring each of our strategies are implemented in a timely and effective manner.
Areas of major focus will include:
- Developing our organization-wide Zero Harm policy
- Assessing and enhancing education and training for our team
- Providing greater access control to key parts of our organization like our Emergency Departments and ambulatory buildings
- Assessing and supporting the role of our security team as they are often times first responders to issues of workplace violence
- Defining key metrics that we will use to identify our goals and monitor our performance
- Developing and posting Behavioral Expectations for our patients and visitors
- Strengthening our partnerships with local law enforcement
2. Holding additional conversations with key departments where team member violence occurs more regularly (examples: emergency departments, security, home care)
3. Reviewing hospital regulations (TJC, OSHA) for compliance expectations and best practices
4. Reviewing UMMS affiliate hospital policies for consistency and best practice ideas
5. Assessing current data and moving forward, determining how to capture every event
These initial steps will provide the foundation and structure we need to achieve Zero Team Member Harm at SRH – and we’ve only just begun. NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP! There are two key things we need from you as we make this CALL TO ACTION together.
1. Respond to our survey. In the coming weeks you will receive a survey asking key questions about workplace violence, your experiences and things you think we can do to achieve our goal of Zero Harm. While the forums and department specific discussions were a good start, we need to hear directly from YOU – because we all are at risk for experiencing workplace violence.
2. Volunteer to be part of the answer. With this important focus, we are creating a Team Member Advisory Group made up of team members throughout our organization. Your active participation, feedback and advocacy for our efforts is an essential component to our ongoing success!
Thank you for all you do for Shore Regional Health! Stay tuned for more information to follow and until then and always – Stay Safe!!
