OSHA defines “Workplace violence (WPV) is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.” Incidences of workplace violence in the healthcare industry have increased in recent years. This is at the forefront of the minds of our clinical teams as they provide patient care. Recently, Vizient completed a security assessment that looked at the security concerns across the Shore region medical campuses. They assessed security as it relates to both environmental safety and workplace violence.
As a result of this, UM Shore Regional Health will kick off the Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) is going to be kicking off in early June. The purpose of the WVPP is to establish a comprehensive framework for identifying, preventing and responding to incidents of workplace violence. This program is designed to ensure that all areas of the organization are represented while continuing to provide quality care to patients and a safe environment to all who are on our campus through evidence-based practices.
This program will include all UM SRH locations. There will be four key pillars aiming to address policy, clinical, safety and education concerns and will a positive impact on patient care we provide and staff safety..