Medical Center Occupational Health Basics-Violence in Health Care and Its Underpinnings

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Michael Hodgson, a retired chief medical officer at OSHA and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, spoke about workplace violence, with a focus on healthcare worker violence. He emphasized the necessity of understanding institutional safety resources and violence prediction, particularly for healthcare environments. Dr. Hodgson detailed components of comprehensive workplace safety programs, highlighting the important role of the Joint Commission's checklist for evaluating these programs. He also discussed the evolution of violence prevention in healthcare, specifically referencing the VA's historical and current efforts, including the Disruptive Behavior Committee system.<br /><br />In his presentation, Dr. Hodgson reviewed various violence prediction tools and frameworks for threat assessment in healthcare settings. He outlined critical program elements, such as formal risk assessments, data systems, training, and the role of leadership in maintaining safety culture. To equip institutions effectively, he stressed the importance of addressing individual safety, de-escalation techniques, and personal safety skills.<br /><br />Finally, he recommended using the Joint Commission's standards as a practical tool for evaluating and enhancing workplace safety programs, emphasizing education, leadership, and environment of care standards as essential criteria.

Keywords

workplace violence

healthcare safety

violence prevention

Joint Commission

risk assessment

de-escalation techniques

safety culture

threat assessment