A member recently sought resources to encourage staff to report incidents of patient violence and aggression that staff may perceive as less serious because no staff injury results. The member cites spitting or hair pulling as examples of such incidents. The member further notes that the organization's current employee-injury report form is several pages long, which may impede reporting of minor events.
In our response, we note that the first step in encouraging reporting is for the organization to define the types of incidents it wants to track and design a form that reflects this desire. For example, a one-page form with checkboxes or multiple-choice responses might work well to call attention to the types of incidents the member describes.
To guide the design of such a form, organizations may wish to refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 2015 document
Preventing Workplace Violence: A Road Map for Healthcare Facilities. The report includes links to several policy templates and sample forms (see p. 38) that may serve as examples in designing a facility-specific form.
Additional workplace violence prevention resources are available from OSHA's Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare webpage. Launched in late 2015, the webpage complements the agency'sGuidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers. As noted, the road map presents real-life examples from healthcare organizations that have successfully implemented workplace violence prevention programs, as well as links to useful resources. A document titled The Big Picture illustrates how a workplace violence prevention program can complement and enhance compliance, accreditation, and quality of care.
The recommendations contained in Ask ECRI do not constitute legal advice. Facilities should consult legal counsel for specific guidance and develop clinical guidance in consultation with their clinical staff.