How one American hospital has addressed workplace violence
Workplace violence in healthcare settings has reached alarming levels, with nurses in the United States now four to five times more likely to be injured at work than police officers or sheriffs. The trend is happening on both sides of the border, with nurses unions in several provinces reporting similar statistics. In response, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow has emerged as a leader in addressing this crisis, pioneering a collaborative approach between nursing and security teams to enhance employee safety.
Recent data highlights the urgency of the issue. According to Dr. Jeanne Venella, senior clinical advisor at Canopy Works, Press Ganey’s 2023 statistics show two nurses per hour in the U.S. are injured, assaulted, or verbally abused, amounting to 57 nurses every 24 hours. She also noted that 44% of nurses reported physical violence in the last month, and 68% reported verbal abuse.
Recognizing the need for change, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow’s leadership began searching for solutions nearly a decade ago. Jerry Dumond, director of public safety and chief of private security police and K9, said the organization recognized internal challenges and the importance of administrative support.
The journey was not without obstacles. Chris Nemets, Regional Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, explained that organizational change was difficult and that financial and cultural barriers had to be overcome.
After extensive research and collaboration, the team implemented a discreet, wearable safety device for staff. Nemets described it as “a very sleek square thing device that had a button in the middle of it. And it was thin and it went behind your badge and you didn’t have to worry about it.”
The adoption rate was impressive, with more than 95% of the 1,400 badges distributed being accepted voluntarily. Within 90 minutes of deployment, the system was used successfully in an incident, demonstrating its immediate impact. The initiative has since been recognized as an industry best practice by the Joint Commission.
The program’s success is measured by staff perceptions of safety, retention rates, and response times to incidents. Nemets explained, “One of the key things is caregiver feeling safe, so team members feeling safe. You know, we had pre- and post-surveys, you know, how did they feel. So that was what drove it at the beginning, so they didn’t feel safe. So that was one of our baseline measurements, and you know, once you roll it out, did they feel safer?”
Looking ahead, both Nemets and Dumond see broader applications for the technology, including for home care and other remote staff. “For technology, this is only the beginning. As these technologies develop and go forward, the sky’s the limit,” Nemets said.
As workplace violence continues to challenge healthcare systems on both sides of the border, University of Michigan Health-Sparrow’s experience demonstrates that with leadership, collaboration, and the right technology, meaningful progress is possible.
