Definition of Assault: An assault is defined as any incident involving forcible, unwanted physical or sexual contact in the workplace, regardless of who carries out the assault (e.g., patient, visitor, hospital employee), and regardless of whether or not there is intent to harm.
Although verbal aggression is not typically labeled as “assault”, it is well known that verbal violence can be a precursor to physical violence.
Types of Assault
Physical: Contact with another person (e.g., pushing), contact with bodily fluids (e.g.,
being spat upon), and contact with objects (e.g., being struck by a thrown object).
Sexual: Unwanted sexual contact includes fondling, forced kissing, attempted rape, etc.
Verbal: Incidents involving only verbal behavior (e.g., abusive language) or non-verbal communication (e.g., threatening gestures). Although these are not considered assaults for the purposes of reporting to external databases, they are important for us to address and act upon.
Common Themes for prevention and management
Security Measures
De-escalation training: Training staff to recognize and defuse potentially violent situations before they escalate.
Duress buttons: Installing emergency buttons that staff can press to alert security personnel immediately.
BDRT/BERT: Behavioral De-escalation Response Team (BDRT) or Behavioral
Emergency Response Team (BERT) to handle violent incidents swiftly and effectively.
Effective Signage: Clear and visible signs, in plain language, to inform and guide staff,
patients, and visitors about safety and behavior protocols.
Security rounding: Regular patrols by security personnel to maintain a visible presence and deter potential violence.
Reporting Mechanisms
MIDAS report submission: Using the MIDAS system to document and report incidents of violence.
Event Debriefing: Conducting debriefing sessions after an incident to review what happened and how it was handled.
Medical Record Violence Flag: Marking patient records with a violence flag to alert staff of potential risks.
Individualized care plan: Developing personalized care plans for patients with specific syndromes that may predispose them to violence, to manage their behavior and care for them effectively.
Violence/Incidence Dashboard: Maintaining a dashboard to track and analyze
incidents of violence for better prevention and response.
Educational Initiatives
Begins at orientation: Introducing new staff to violence prevention and response protocols during their orientation.
Crisis prevention and intervention training: Providing ongoing training to help staff prevent and manage crises.
Targeted education: Offering specialized training for staff in high-risk areas or roles.
Simulation training: Using simulations to practice responding to violent incidents in a controlled environment.
Desktop drills: Conducting tabletop exercises to review and improve response plans.
Patient and Family Engagement
Behavioral guidelines: Establishing clear guidelines for acceptable behavior for
patients and their families.
Behavioral Partnership agreements: Creating agreements with patients and families to promote positive behavior and cooperation.
No trespass and decisions to dismiss from care: Implementing policies to bar
individuals who pose a threat from the premises and making decisions to dismiss them from care if necessary.
Community Collaboration: Working with local law enforcement and community organizations to enhance safety and support.
Additional Strategies
Proactive Communication: Establish clear communication channels to report and address potential threats early.
Support Systems: Provide access to counseling and support services for victims and witnesses.
Technology Integration: Utilize advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to predict and prevent violent incidents.
Policy Development: Regularly update policies to reflect best practices and legal requirements.
Community Engagement: Foster partnerships with local law enforcement and
community organizations to enhance safety measures.
By implementing these strategies, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone. Let’s work