Implementing a Staff Safety Intervention Bundle to Reduce Patient-initiated Workplace Violence

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Administration

Background:

• Workplace violence against healthcare staff is a significant issue.
• Existing interventions often lack scalability and integration.
• A comprehensive approach is needed to address patient-initiated violence effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a Staff Safety Intervention Bundle in reducing patient-initiated violence.
• To describe the components of the intervention bundle and their integration into clinical workflows.
• To provide a replicable framework for implementing similar interventions in academic health systems.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a multi-component intervention bundle including Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression screening via electronic health records.
• Utilization of adaptive learning technology for staff education on recognizing and managing aggression.
• Deployment of visual risk indicators (door magnets) to enhance team awareness of patient risk levels.

Main Results:

• The Staff Safety Intervention Bundle led to a reduction in patient-initiated violence.
• Integration into electronic health record workflows facilitated screening and data capture.
• Adaptive learning provided scalable and consistent staff education.
• Visual risk indicators improved team communication and awareness.

Conclusions:

• The Staff Safety Intervention Bundle is an effective strategy for reducing patient-initiated violence.
• Interdisciplinary partnerships and organizational safety infrastructure are crucial for sustainability.
• The developed framework offers a replicable model for healthcare organizations addressing workplace violence.