In recent decades, violence against health workers has become an omnipresent challenge in health care. Despite increased awareness, hospital circles remain among the The most dangerous workplaces(Opens in a new window) in the country. According to American work statistics office(Opens in a new window) Data, workers in the health and social assistance sector undergo intentional injuries at almost 5 times the rate of the average American worker (14.2 per 10,000 against 2.9 per 10,000 in all sectors of the industry).
What was once considered as an occasional professional risk has become a systemic crisis, reaching unprecedented levels during the COVVI-19 pandemic when health workers were confronted not only with a deadly virus, but also with increasing hostility of the public they served. Recent tragedies in Florida and Pennsylvania – where health workers have undergone serious injuries and even deaths – once again plunged this urgent problem under national projectors, demanding significant action beyond simple recognition.
The persistence of this problem indicates a need for innovative approaches that take advantage of existing technology from new ways. Although many hospitals have invested in security measures such as panic pimples and security personnel, these reactive solutions are not below the prevention of violence before it occurs. A more proactive strategy is necessary – a strategy that can anticipate and intervene the earliest potential violence.
Reuse existing virtual technology for the prevention of violence
Many hospitals have already invested in virtual nursing and observation systems for virtual patients (APV) to improve patient safety and improve clinical workflows. These same systems can be reused effectively to combat violence at work with little or no additional changes or investment.
Unlike panic pimples, which require the health worker to have free hands and the presence of mind to activate them during a crisis, VPO systems provide continuous monitoring that can detect problems before degenerating violence. In sudden attacks like the recent incident of Florida, where the assault occurred without warning and has not left time to react, traditional reactive safety measures offer little protection.
VPO benefits in relation to traditional security measures include:
- Continuous monitoring without obliging staff to be physically present in potentially dangerous situations
- Early detection of increasing behavior thanks to visual and audio monitoring
- Immediate alert capacities that can invoke security before physical violence
- Incident documentation for subsequent potential examination, training and legal proceedings
- Distance de -escalation possibilities through two -way communication features
Hospitals that have already implemented these patient safety systems can extend their use with targeted training on violence prevention protocols. Virtual nursing platforms, in particular, offer additional advantages because they have experienced clinic professionals who are trained to recognize subtle changes in patients and can provide early intervention during the climbing of situations.
The economic imperative of the prevention of violence
Beyond the human cost, violence at work has significant economic consequences for health establishments. Tackling this question by virtual technology represents not only an ethical imperative but an ethical but financial imperative.
According to the 2024 National report for retention of health care and RN staff(Opens in a new window)The average cost of turnover for an RN of bedside is $ 56,300. This means that the average hospital loses between $ 3.9 and $ 5.8 million a year due to turnover.
When nurses and other health workers leave their positions due to violence or fear of violence, institutions are faced with several costs:
- Direct replacement costs for deceased staff
- Overtime increase for remaining staff
- Training costs for new recruits
- Decrease in productivity during transitions
- Potential legal costs of incidents of violence at work
- Runny accidents for work accidents for injured staff
- Increased insurance premiums
Beyond these tangible costs, violence at work creates psychological charges that contribute to professional exhaustion and decrease the quality of care for patients. By preventing violence through VPO systems, hospitals can considerably reduce these financial drains while creating safer environments for staff and patients.
Future innovations: prevention of improved violence in AI
Although the emphasis is placed on the maximization of existing virtual surveillance systems, these technologies continue to evolve in order to further improve safety at work. The Foundation built today thanks to the strategic implementation of current VPO systems and virtual nursing creates a path for additional capacities as technology is progressing.
For the future, surveillance technologies will likely become more sophisticated in their ability to identify potential threats. Emerging developments in AI and the recognition of models could possibly help health establishments better anticipate the climbing of situations. Likewise, progress in communication systems can allow faster response coordination when incidents occur.
The essential point remains that health establishments do not need to wait for future innovations to solve the urgent problem of violence at work. Today’s technology, when properly implemented and used with violence prevention protocols, already offers significant protection which takes place largely unexploited. By focusing first on maximizing existing capacities – training staff to recognize warning signs, the development of clear response protocols and widening coverage in vulnerable fields – health organizations can make immediate progress in the creation of safer environments.
The most effective violence prevention strategy will always combine technology with appropriate training, clear policies and an institutional commitment to personnel safety. Starting with the tools already available offers both immediate protection and prepares institutions to integrate improvements as they emerge.
Recoil for foresight: protect the future of health
Violence at health care work is not inevitable. With existing technology, strategic implementation and institutional commitment, hospitals can considerably reduce the risk to their staff.
As health leaders, we have both an ethical obligation and a financial incentive to protect those who devote their lives to the healing of others. Virtual observation of patients and virtual nursing technology represents one of our most powerful and easily available tools in this effort.
The recent tragic events in Florida and Pennsylvania should serve as catalysts for the implementation of complete violence prevention strategies which include virtual surveillance solutions. Our health workers deserve nothing less than environments where they can focus on patient care without fear for their own safety.
Technology exists. The economic affair is clear. The only question that remains is whether health establishments will act before more dedicated professionals become victims of avoidable violence.
Photo: SCS, Getty Images
Holly Miller(Opens in a new window) is a Dynamic Health IT leader, as CEO of Health collet(Opens in a new window)Where it takes advantage of its deep expertise in the scale of companies, the creation of the value of the stakeholders and the solving complex problems. For more than 20 years, it has led to the growth of income in the acute and post-Aigu SaaS sectors. An ardent defender of the digital health care transformation, Holly devotes herself to the implementation of virtual care solutions and to focus on the experiences of clinicians as pivotal strategies to mitigate the growing challenge for the professional exhaustion of clinicians, thus improving the experiences of patients and providers.
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