Category: Pandemic / COVID / Public Health Emergency

Joint HQIC 3-Part Series: Workplace Violence Prevention

Prepared by the HQIC collaborative group (IPRO, Alliant, Compass, and Telligen)

Defined as “violent acts, including physical assaults and threats of assault, directed toward persons at work or on duty,” workplace violence (WPV) is a growing concern. An April 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics Fact Sheet revealed that healthcare workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018. This number has been steadily growing since tracking these specific events began in 2011.

Now, it is time to act!
Why Now? According to OSHA (2016), workplace violence rates among healthcare workers between 1993 and 2009 were 20% higher than that for other industries. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the factors leading to workplace violence, such as staffing shortages leading to a decrease in the amount of staffed (available) beds, a high workload causing stressed staff, and frustrated patients and families who feel as though their needs are not being met. A memo to State Survey Agency Directors dated November 28, 2022, states CMS’ continued enforcement of regulatory expectations that patients and staff have an environment that prioritizes their safety while effectively delivering healthcare. To effectively maintain a safe environment for healthcare delivery, hospitals can develop policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of workplace violence.


The HQIC collaborative group consisting of Alliant, Compass, IPRO and Telligen appreciates your interest in the Workplace Violence Prevention series. Access event materials here:

IPRO HQIC Workplace Violence Prevention Change Pathway

Part 1:  Workplace Violence Prevention (WPV): Best Practices for Safer Care

  • WPV is defined as an act or threat occurring at the workplace from physical and verbal assaults.
  • 2020 Bureau of Labor Fact Sheet found that health care workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illness due to violence in 2018.
  • WPV prevention takes more than security.  Requires commitment from organizational leadership, interdisciplinary, collaboration and allocation of resources.
  • It is an investment in our workforce not a cost.

SLIDES.

Part 2:   Key Components of an Effective Workplace Violence Prevention Program: Leadership Engagement and Communication

  • Workplace violence is more than a written Policy, it is a series of action steps that serve as a foundational guide for educating staff and acting quickly in an emergency.
  • Communication is critical. WPV prevention policies must be communicated to patients and families in a way that is non-threatening, clear, concise and at the appropriate reading level.   
  • The way an organization addresses WPV AFTER an event (debriefing, counseling, performance improvement action plan) is just as important as how your organization responds during the event.
  • Leadership is a partnership. At the heart of all good policies, procedure, and programs is good two-way communication. Find what’s missing by including all perspectives.

SLIDES.

Part 3:   Uncovering Unconscious Bias for Safer Healthcare Interactions

  • Unconscious bias affects healthcare interactions and can lead to poor, inequitable outcomes.
  • Self-reflection is crucial for bias identification and improvement.
  • De-escalation must be a priority to promote safe, healing environments.
  • Organizations must implement training, diversity initiatives, reporting mechanisms, and community engagement to address and mitigate bias in healthcare.

SLIDES.

Video: Uncovering Unconscious Bias for Safer Healthcare Interactions

Solar Eclipse Provider-Facing Safety Tips

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. The eclipse will travel across portions of Mexico, the central and eastern United States, and southeastern Canada. According to NASA, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun at just the right time, with the Moon creating a shadow on a portion of the Earth’s surface. If you have plans to view the solar eclipse or if you live in an area that will experience a total solar eclipse, it’s important that you plan ahead and review these safety tips. This document is intended to assist hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, dialysis centers, and all other health care providers plan for the upcoming total solar eclipse. In preparation, please take the time to review this document and share this information with your patients/ residents, facilities, and staff.

Solar Eclipse Patient Safety Tips

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, causing the sky to darken as if it were dawn or dusk. Visit the NASA website on the flyer to see if your area is in the path of the eclipse. Follow these safety tips when viewing the eclipse to stay safe. Be sure to share these tips with your family and friends.

Workplace Violence Mitigation & Resource Collection

Curated by IPRO HQIC

Workplace violence (WPV) is defined as an act or threat occurring at the workplace that can include any of the following: verbal, nonverbal, written, or physical aggression; threats, intimidation, harassment, or humiliating words or actions; bullying; sabotage; sexual harassment; physical assaults; or other behaviors of concern involving staff, licensed practitioners, patients, or visitors.

By assessing worksites, preparing employees through training, and providing resources such as clear reporting procedures, healthcare facilities can help to reduce the impact of this hazard on the workforce and continue to ensure a safe place to provide care for patients. Whether your facility already has a workplace violence program or is just starting to develop one, IPRO HQIC has a compendium of tools and resources to ensure that all aspects of this hazard are considered throughout the process.

This collection contains research articles, best practices webinars, planning templates, assessment tools, and online trainings related to workplace violence in healthcare settings.

Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPP) Training, Templates & More: A Guide for Developing Your EPP

Compiled by IPRO NQIIC

According to the CMS Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers, all 17 provider/supplier types must have an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) as part of their Conditions of Participation.

Additionally, many states require other groups, such as community-based organizations, to have their own plans or adopt the county-level plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of all organizations having a plan that addresses the four core elements of an Emergency Preparedness Program:

  1. Risk Assessment and Planning
  2. Communication Plan
  3. Policies and Procedures
  4. Training and Testing

We encourage organizations to align their EPP with their community (or county) plan, to assist with regional preparedness. This guide includes links to key guidance, training, and sample templates to help build and/or refine a comprehensive EPP.

Updated: 10/19/23.

Your Worst Day: Emergency Preparedness and Response Educational Series

Prepared by IPRO QIN-QIO

This Emergency Preparedness and Response Webinar series features real life experiences told through the lens of those who have experienced emergencies and will help you prepare and train for emergencies and anticipate potential hazards when an emergency occurs.

For healthcare workers, it is not of question of if, but when an emergency will strike. Emergencies can take many forms and are among the most disruptive experiences that healthcare workers might encounter. Being prepared can save lives, prevent financial/property loss, and ensure the safety and well-being of entire communities. Having a plan helps staff, patients, families, and residents know what to do, where to go, and how to keep themselves safe during an emergency, and ensures access to essential information and equipment.

Session 1: When Things Get Real! (4/20/2023)

Session 2: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know (4/27/2023)

Session 3: The Impact of Trauma (5/4/2023)

Session 4: The Media at Your Door (5/11/2023)

IPRO HQIC March 2022 PFE LAN: Revitalizing PFE Practices after COVID

Prepared by IPRO HQIC

The March PFE Learning and Action Event focuses on how HQIC hospitals can revitalize their implementation of the five PFE Best Practices as the demands of the COVID surges begin to wane. The one-hour session offers a step-by-step approach for hospital leaders to assess and reset their PFE efforts after the pandemic. Representatives from Covenant Healthcare in Michigan share experiences and lessons learned.

ZONE TOOL | COVID-19 Self-Management Zone Tool

This resource was prepared by the Health Service Advisory Group (HSAG)
and adapted by Alliant Health Solutions. It is redistributed by the IPRO
HQIC, a Hospital Quality Improvement Contractor, under contract with
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

This tool is used by healthcare providers across the continuum of care to educate and prepare patients for safe self-management of COVID-19 illness.

National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN): How to Use the Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity Module

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion and the CDC

As part of CDC’s ongoing COVID-19 response, a new Patient Impact Module has been created in NHSN to help facilities track and monitor the number of cases reported in their facilities daily. The new module collects summary data which can be viewed in a table form without generating new analysis datasets. In addition, the summary data can be exported to excel/CSV for additional analysis outside the application. The data collected using this module will be informative and provide situational awareness at both state and national levels.

HPH Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) Toolkit 1.0

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Risk Identification and Site Criticality (RISC) Toolkit is an objective, data-driven all-hazards risk assessment that can be used by public and private organizations within the HPH Sector to inform emergency preparedness planning, risk management activities, and resource investments. The RISC Toolkit provides owners/operators in the HPH Sector with nationally recognized standards-based evaluation criteria in an easy-to-follow, guided format.

Hospital Operations Toolkit for COVID-19

U.S Department of Health and Human Services

This toolkit was designed as a single source of information for hospital emergency managers and planners preparing to manage large numbers of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some information may be applicable to other hospital personnel and non-hospital settings. The toolkit is comprised of four primary sections and covers considerations from before patients arrive at a hospital to after they are discharged and is designed for users to easily navigate to desired information.