Geisinger lowers workplace violence incidents

As hospitals and health systems continue to grapple with escalating violence, Geisinger has seen success in their security measures, the American Medical Association said.

In 2022, nurses were subject to about 57 assaults a day, a Press Ganey survey found. OSHA has also recognized workplace violence as a "recognized hazard in the healthcare industry." But the issue really hit home for Geisinger in 2022 when two people were killed on its hospital's property. A high school senior was fatally stabbed in the parking lot of a Geisinger clinic in Scranton, Pa., in June 2022. In December of that year, a staff phlebotomist was fatally shot on her way to her car after her shift at the system's main campus in Danville.

Following these incidents, Geisinger expedited its safety efforts. The system has set a goal to reduce incidents of violence by 3% across the system.

Here are five strategies they took along with the results:

1. All 6,000 Geisinger physicians and staffers were given badges that could notify security if they were under duress. Staff were also trained in active-shooter response, deescalation and aggressive behavior management techniques. Security staff were also available to escort staff and patients.
   
   
2. Metal detectors were installed at all nine of Geisinger's EDs. These detectors screened some 66,000 visitors and intercepted 5,000 knives, 346 pepper-spray containers, 130 firearms, 20 tasers and stun guns, and 1,800 other prohibited items in 2022.
   
   
3. Geisinger also created a patient-misconduct policy that defined inappropriate behavior and made plain that "threats, violence, rude communication and harassment of other patients and hospital staff will not be tolerated."
   
   
4. Each hospital created a workplace-violence committee that includes physician and nurse leadership, security personnel and patient-safety representatives. These committees meet bimonthly to report on trends, concerns and identify where support is needed.
   
   
5. The system has reduced rates of assaults and aggressive behavior toward staff. Aggressive patient behavior toward staff went from 1,814 in 2023 to 1,026 in 2024. Assault injuries to ED staff also declined from 2.4 per 10,000 ED visitors to 2.3 in 2024. Assault injuries to all staff reduced from 183 in 2023 to 111.