Dr. Davidoff on protecting health care workers from violence

Physician leaders must take bold action to protect colleagues from growing rates of violence against health care professionals, Ramin Davidoff, MD, co-CEO of The Permanente Federation, writes in a recent Physician’s Weekly commentary.

Emotionally demanding health care settings can lead even well-intentioned patients, family members, and friends to take their frustrations out on the professionals caring for them or their loved ones, Dr. Davidoff explains. Violence against health care professionals rose 60% from 2011 to 2018. Today, health care professionals are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than those in other professions.

The threat of physical and verbal abuse can hinder the ability of physicians and care teams to deliver high-quality care. Violent incidents also contribute to stress and burnout — already a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic — increasing the risk of medical errors and eroding public trust in health care, Dr. Davidoff writes.

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The role of physician leaders in protecting health care workers from violence

Given their experience facing violent situations and the expertise that comes with a leadership role, physician leaders are well-positioned to spearhead initiatives aimed at protecting health care professionals from workplace violence, according to Dr. Davidoff. They can work with other hospital leaders, like administrators, department managers, and other staff to help clinicians recognize situations that may turn violent and to develop intervention protocols.

These efforts should extend beyond the health care setting, as demonstrated by Kaiser Permanente’s work to address gun violence in the United States. The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education focuses on gun violence research, public education initiatives, and collaborating with gun violence prevention and intervention organizations to develop community-led solutions.

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While physician leaders have a clear and powerful role to play preventing violence against health care professionals, this work cannot be carried out alone. All health care leaders must work together to advance policies that keep health care professionals safe in the workplace, Dr. Davidoff writes.

The need to create a culture of safety within health care settings is urgent, as are the steps physician leaders should take to create that culture across medical facilities locally and nationally.

To read the full article, visit Physician’s Weekly.