9 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 7
The most violent industry in the United States outside of law
enforcement? Health care. Studies show that almost 75% of all
workplace assaults between 2011 and 2013 happened in health-
care settings.
Adding to the list of staff safety concerns, many surgical facili-
ties have dramatically increased their efforts to keep employees
safe from potentially dangerous intruders. They've installed
panic buttons, conducted "code silver" active shooter train-
ing, installed bullet-proof glass, hired 24-hour security,
mounted security cameras, designated safe rooms,
installed key card systems, invited Homeland Security
agents in for consulting, stepped up enforcement of
badging with vendors and reps, brought in local police
and conducted "ALICE" (alert, lockdown, inform,
counter, evacuate) training.
"We haven't always had a huge level of concern,
but in recent years we have seen the increase
nationwide of workplace violence — especially in
medical facilities," says Nicolette Williams, RN,
CNOR, OR director of the Lakeland (Fla.)
Surgical and Diagnostic Center, whose facility
has ramped up its approach with regular
drills, planned escape routes and the
addition of security guards.
Keep in mind, says Ms. Williams, that when a crisis aris-
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Security a Growing Concern
• RECOGNIZED HAZARD Workplace violence against healthcare workers is rampant.
