While the concept of violence in the workplace is not new by any means, any more than workplace violence is an "American-thing," the medical sector is waking up to the reality that it is in a, so-called, league of its own.
For years, the medical sector, at least that part of it that took action, has been treating the issue of workplace violence as though hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices were no different than factories. Those who did take measures to prevent violence in the workplace - who did create workplace violence plans, polices, and procedures for handling this important issue - did so as though they were "just like everybody else." And, they have come to find out that...it just wasn't so.
The Reality of Workplace Violence In The Health Sector
The truth when it comes to WPV in the health care field is that:
* The health care sector has one of the lowest - if not THE lowest rate of employee-initiated incidents in the corporate world. Good for them. But...
* The health care sector has THE HIGHEST number of incidents of violence perpetrated against health workers on the job!
We'll talk about why this is true in another post. But what's important now is the fact that the health care community made a serious error in judgment. They operated under the premis, and hired workplace violence consultants to assist them based on the premise, that they had the same problem that every other company did, and they could use the same measures.
In fact, when it comes to violence in the workplace, the health sector is in such a unique position that the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation - the FBI - has created a separate listing for health care professionals in the world of workplace violence.
Why? A few reasons.
1. The typical attack on a health care worker is perpetrated by an assailant who "does not" fit the profile established using standard workplace violence data and statistics.
2. The typical assailant in an attack on a medical professional lashes out for very different reasons than in the rest of the corporate world. And...
3. Health care workers are in a very unique position when it comes to dealing with an attack, in that he or she must defend themselves while "simultaneously" providing aid to their assailant!
Its Time Has Come
In the past year or so, the medical community has been waking up to the realities of workplace violence as it relates to them. They are re-examining their beliefs, policies, and procedures and seeing the lack of real protection.
In fact, many facilities, just like many standard companies in the corporate world at-large, are realizing that the workplace violence plans, policies, and procedures they have in place... just might be creating the very "same" liability issues they were meant to handle in the first place!
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I had an EGD done and was put on Prevacid for a ...
By: Dana | 03-09-2008
I had an EGD done and was put on Prevacid for a mild inflamed stomach...how long does one normally stay on Prevacid for a mild inflamed stomach?
Boys and weight
By: Hopeless | 03-09-2008
i like this boy but i think that im fat so how can i lose weight by 7 days?
Polyneuropathy
By: Angel | 03-09-2008
My husband has the following "moderately severe, distal, axonal, polyneuropathy" what does it mean? I am trying to find info on the net but unable to get answers I need.
Has anyone gotten Diabetes from Chantix and ...
By: CindyInUsc | 03-09-2008
Has anyone gotten Diabetes from Chantix and recoverd from it?
Swollen eyelid
By: kjellingson | 03-09-2008
I have developed a very sore and swollen eye lid. The doctor is not sure what it is. Could this be the result of being punched in the side of my eye a few weeks ago?
Has the major complaints with dicyclomine at 10mg ...
By: aloger | 03-09-2008
Has the major complaints with dicyclomine at 10mg 2 x/day. Going to stop medication for two weeks and than may start back on 10mg/day It is felt that major side effects will not be felt is it is taken at night yet enough to calm down IBS.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Management Articles
Executive Recruiting - Employers: Use Recruiting Methods to Improve Emloyee Retention!
By: Kimberly Schenk | 07/10/2008
Smart employers use the methods Executive Recruiters use to understand their workforce better. With this knowledge management can reduce turnover by helping employees feel heard while they acheive their own professional goals. Using the same tools Recruiters use makes them less vulnerable to Recruiters who want to take key employees away.
Tips for Going Green With Office Paper Recycling
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
Are you or your office staff looking to turn your office a little greener by recycling your discarded papers and documents. If you are then you are not alone, as it is a growing trend that is definitely here to stay. So how do you go about it? Is there some type of recycler that will come and pick your papers up?
Hipaa Document Destruction – the Highest Standards
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
Most people who visit a doctors office, hospital or medical clinic are completely unaware of what hipaa document destruction standards are. Briefly what hipaa standards are is a set of guidelines that were drawn up to provide a set of standards for how medical records are destroyed after they leave an office. Not adhering to these standards for medical record and document destruction can result in civil, as well as criminal penalties for any medical professional who is found to be in violation.
Secure Document Destruction – How Safe is Safe
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
You watch the trash truck pull away from your parking lot and breath a sigh of relief. Your dumpster is securely locked and your sensitive documents are now on the way to the dump to be buried. Now thats complete security from front to back or is it?
Medical Records Shredding – the Quest for Total Security
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
Of all the types of documents that have to be disposed of securely, medical records rank among the top with regards to required security. In this age of recycling, it is imperative that a person who is responsible for disposing of sensitive documents understand that a locked trash can is just not enough. This is due to the fact that once paper trash is hauled away in a trash truck, it is then sorted for recycling and can pass through several hands before it is finally destroyed.
Paper Shredding Company Security Measures – are They Safe
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
Your janitor reports back to you that the last time he went to dump the office trash into the locked dumpster out back, the lock had been cut and someone had gone through it. “Thats just great” you mumble out loud and then you start to wonder who it was and if there were any sensitive documents in the dumpster.
Shredding Services – Do You Need One
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
Over the past couple of decades, with various forms of fraud and identity theft making he headlines, numerous options in paper shredding services have emerged to meet a growing need. However; at what point do you need one and will a simple paper shredder do the trick.
Paper Shredding Services Explained
By: Daniel Mummskey | 07/10/2008
So you finally decided to make the wise decision to shred all of the documents that leave your business. You went out and bought a nice paper shredder for to use and guess what? You were still finding unshreded papers in the trash can. Sure the office workers were diligent for the first few weeks, then it got old standing there feeding papers into the shredder. So, now they look them over and if they appear to be worthy of not being shredded they throw them in to the trash.
More from Jeffrey Miller
3 Keys to Effective Self-Defense
By: Jeffrey Miller | 05/07/2008 | Martial Arts
When you think of a self-defense situation, what are the top three considerations for being effective? Is it having strength, stamina, power, or a lot of techniques?
Corporate Workplace Violence Plan - Will Yours Fail When You Need it Most?
By: Jeffrey Miller | 25/06/2008 | Management
The problem with most workplace violence plans is something that is often invisible to most managers responsible for the development of these policies. And yet, this missing piece could actually leave you and your company holding the proverbial bag, liability-wise, should the unthinkable happen to, or by, one of your employees.
Martial Arts and Real-World Self-Defense: Using the Kubotan Self-Defense Keychain
By: Jeffrey Miller | 03/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
The most surprising thing that students find when learning to use the Kubotan self-defense keychain, is just how many things can be done with this simple-looking little tool. And that, is part of it's power!
"Kick Me Where It Counts": A Critical Mistake in Martial Arts and Self-Defense Training
By: Jeffrey Miller | 01/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
During my recent visit to Japan for training, there was one overriding thing that I noticed about most of the black belts that I trained with. Now, if they were just having fun and aren't really looking to be able to defend themselves...
A Martial Artist Wears Out Early But A Warrior Gets Better With Age
By: Jeffrey Miller | 01/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Ever wonder why Today's martial artists are broken and battered by middle age when the ancient warrior masters were defeating younger, faster, stronger opponents well into their eighties? The reason just might not be what you think.
Martial Arts & Self-Defense Weapons: What IS a "Kubotan"?
By: Jeffrey Miller | 01/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
If you do a search on the internet, there seems to be no end to what has been written about this simple, yet powerful weapon. There seems to be no small supply of writers who have used dramatic titles to add to the impact of an otherwise so-so article on the subject.
Kubotan: Self-Defense Power in the Palm of Your Hand
By: Jeffrey Miller | 01/05/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Have you ever heard of a Kubotan, min-stick, or self-defense keychain? Whether you have or haven't...
Using the Kubotan Self-Defense Keychain as a Model for Using Everyday Items to Protect Yourself
By: Jeffrey Miller | 09/04/2007 | Sports and Fitness
One of the key elements that separates the Ninja's self-protection methods, including the study of weapons like the Kubotan self-defense keychain, from many other approaches to self-defense training is the concept of "strategic thinking." And one of the ways that this important mindset manifests is through the ability to see through the "form" to what's really going on.
Business 
