Foundation’s Workplace Violence Committee releases “Call to Action”

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation’s new Workplace Violence Committee released its official “Call to Action” this month.

Hospitals and systems participating on the committee include Baylor Scott & White Health, Children’s Health, JPS Health Network, Medical City Healthcare, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health & Hospital System, Texas Health Resources, UT Southwestern, VA North Texas Health Care System and Wise Health System.

In 2019, U.S. hospitals recorded 221,400 work-related injuries and illnesses, a rate of 5.5 work-related injuries and illnesses for every 100 full-time employees. These numbers are almost twice the rate for the country’s private industry. A report by the American Hospital Association estimated that workplace violence cost U.S. hospitals approximately $2.7 billion annually.

The Committee, which began its official meetings in 2021, adopted the following definition of healthcare workplace violence:

“Workplace violence is defined as an act or threat occurring in the workplace that can include any of the following: verbal, nonverbal, written or physical aggression; threatening, intimidating, harassing or humiliating words or actions; bullying; sabotage; sexual harassment; physical assaults; or other threatening disruptive behaviors of concern involving staff/employees, licensed practitioners, patients, customers or visitors.

We support the belief that healthcare personnel should be able to work in healthy environments free of abusive behavior, threat of injury or assault.

We recognize that healthcare personnel have a personal responsibility to themselves and their profession to have a culture where violence is not tolerated. They should take the lead in creating safer work environments.

We believe violence in the healthcare setting threatens the delivery of effective patient services and therefore, patient safety. If quality care is to be provided, healthcare personnel must have a safe work environment and respectful treatment.

We support healthcare personnel as advocates for policies and programs that advance abuse, harassment and violence-free workplaces through a comprehensive workplace security and violence prevention program.

We support the identification of patients upon admission to healthcare services who have a history of violence, without violating their privacy as provided by legislation.

We support initiatives and legislation at the local, state and national levels that promote comprehensive and collaborative approaches to address violence in healthcare settings that are consistent with our health and safety positions.

We foster research and education that improves practice with regard to workplace violence, creating an awareness of safety issues and best evidence-based practices.

We endorse collaborative efforts by healthcare organizations to develop systems for reporting and analyzing workplace violence to promote an organization reflective of a “culture of safety.”

We ask the community to support this position to minimize violence against healthcare workers in our North Texas hospitals.”

For information, please contact Patti Taylor at ptaylor@dfwhcfoundation.org.