Safety is the fundamental cornerstone of our health system. In order to ensure the best outcomes, it is crucial that staff feel they can provide care safely and that patients feel secure on campus throughout their experience. Health systems nationwide are making efforts to examine and address the increase in disruptive, aggressive, and violent behavior seen in hospitals, and particularly in emergency departments and behavioral health units. Because health care professionals experience higher rates of verbal and physical abuse in the workplace than other industries, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is taking preventative steps to maintain the safety and comfort of every staff member, patient, and visitor on our campus.
An interdisciplinary task force comprised of clinical and non-clinical staff was assembled this fall to share their experiences, assess Culture of Safety Survey responses, work through complex questions related to security, and develop recommendations for leadership. The task force — which consists of staff from nursing, ancillary services, social work, security, regulatory affairs, and a variety of other teams — was then split into three subgroups in order to look at specific issues more closely. Over the past few months, these highly collaborative groups have discussed how to clarify and more effectively enforce visitor policies, create standardized de-escalation procedures, evaluate security team resources and practices, develop supports for staff who experience adverse events, and ensure staff and patients alike understand that abusive behavior is not “just part of the job.”
In the coming weeks, the task force will be presenting their recommendations to leadership, and we will begin discussions about how to best incorporate these strategies and develop updated best practices. Thank you to all of the dedicated task force members who have done extensive research, connected with other hospitals facing similar situations, and ensured that the voices and concerns of frontline staff are represented. I am also deeply appreciative of the integral role each staff member across the hospital continues to play in prioritizing the safety of our patients, visitors, and colleagues, and I thank you for your continued cooperation and support as we strive to create a more secure PPMC.