The Threat of Hospital Violence: Keeping Patients and Staff Safe in the Midst of an Attack
While the Covid-19 pandemic has been at the forefront of hospital safety concerns, the threat of violence against healthcare workers and patients continues to be a valid concern. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may be staffed with security personnel and devices, but breaches do happen and can take a tragic toll on the safety of those involved. In fact, 75% of all documented workplace assaults occur in a hospital setting, with many additional assaults going unreported.
Just last week, two emergency room personnel were attacked at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in North Carolina resulting in internal injuries to one victim. The other was reportedly thrown to the floor and strangled until she fell unconscious. While the incident is still under investigation, the brutal nature of this attack paints a horrific picture of the everyday dangers healthcare workers face when on the job.
Unfortunately, situations like this are on the rise as the stress of the pandemic puts everyone on edge. Within the last couple years, there has been a dramatic increase in violence and threats against healthcare workers as distressed patients and family members search for a scapegoat when faced with a negative health outcome. In addition to being emotionally-taxed with the constant barrage of Covid patients, healthcare workers are now facing verbal and physical violence for refusing to prescribe experimental treatments and are being accused of killing patients who die in their care.
With 25% of healthcare care workers leaving their jobs due to Covid-19 burnout, it is imperative that hospitals make every effort to prioritize the health and safety of what little staff remain in order to continue to provide the best quality care possible for patients. In order to foster as safe an environment as possible, hospitals are turning to technological solutions. Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri has announced plans to outfit over 300 employees with panic buttons to cut down on these instances.
The integration of quick-response technologies, such as panic buttons, into healthcare systems is crucial to both deescalating immediate threats and preventing future ones. The use of a robust real-time locations system (RTLS) allows for patients, visitors, staff and even supplies to be tracked at any given time, while the integration of an emergency paging solution allows for quick and efficient communication with emergency response teams to help de-escalate perceived threats before they turn violent. Panic buttons can be integrated into existing card access technology to provide an added layer of security for staff, while the use of an efficient nurse call system, such as Rauland Responder Enterprise, improves workflows, freeing up staff for quicker responses to emergency situations.
All of these healthcare technologies work hand in hand to create a strong safety and security system that protects staff and patients. At Communication Company, we provide these complete integrated solutions that can help prevent and reduce attacks within the healthcare setting. To learn more about our wide range of healthcare solutions, contact Healthcare Account Manager Lynnetta Cleary at LCleary@communication-co.com or fill out our contact form to receive more information and schedule your free consultation with a member of our team.