Safe Workplace Strategies in the Spotlight

Recognizing that the staff’s safety goes hand in hand with patient safety, Sarasota Memorial has long devoted resources to training programs, risk assessment and reporting tools, security and surveillance mechanisms, and policies to help identify and deter workplace violence.

In recent years — especially after the onset of COVID-19 — Sarasota Memorial and hospitals across the nation have seen an increase in workplace incidents and have been working urgently to enhance efforts to keep staff and visitors safe. To provide a framework to guide hospitals in developing effective safety systems, the Joint Commission recently implemented new and revised workplace violence standards for accredited hospitals.

SMHCS already had many of the national standards in place, including leadership oversight, policies and procedures, reporting systems and training. The health system is now building on existing initiatives to strengthen the culture of safety and ensure alignment with Joint Commission best practices.

Workplace Violence Committee Leadership:

Leading this effort is Sarasota Memorial’s Workplace Violence Committee, a longstanding multidisciplinary team that focuses on identifying, assessing and preventing risks and threats, and assuring systems are in place to track and help prevent workplace incidents. With the opening of SMH-Venice, the committee is now a system-wide group that will include representatives from our various campuses.

Several ongoing and upcoming committee initiatives include:

Developing a new workplace safety survey to get staff’s insights and feedback. The committee has conducted similar surveys in the past, and used the results to develop new programs and protocols. Watch for more information about the new, upcoming survey, which will help drive further improvements in safety.
Continuing to closely evaluate Code Gray and Public Safety alerts (security alerts indicating a disruptive or abusive individual) to identify trends and determine what worked, opportunities for improvement and any follow-up needed.
Posting signage in key areas of the health system reminding patients, visitors and staff that SMHCS is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment where people are treated with dignity and respect, and the health system will not tolerate physical violence, verbal threats or abuse.
Evaluating data collection and risk assessment tools to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach across the health system.
Expanding safety training and education. The health system offers the ACE (Assess, Communicate and Empower) program, which shares de-escalation strategies and techniques intended to reduce a patient’s agitation or aggression before it escalates into violence. A key component involves learning to recognize the warning signs of a potentially violent person, so staff can attempt to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible. Many new hires and a number of patient care areas have received ACE training, but any nursing units or departments interested in offering the two-hour program to their teams can reach out to Public Safety. In addition, specialized, intensive training is offered to higher-risk departments such as the Emergency Care Center, Public Safety and Behavioral Health staff.
SMH-Sarasota’s Emergency Care Center is also piloting an evidence-based screening checklist that helps staff identify signs of a potentially aggressive or violent patient while they assess the individual’s medical condition.

Public Safety’s Key Role:

Playing a central role in all of these initiatives is our Public Safety Department, a 68-member dedicated team who work 24/7 to promote a safe work environment for employees, patients and visitors.

Did You Know…

Sarasota Memorial has nearly 750 security cameras at facilities around the health system. The department also has the ability to remotely lock down entrances to our campuses, and doors to specific high-risk areas, at any time, preventing unauthorized people from gaining access.
Sarasota Memorial regularly conducts risk assessments and training drills, both at the departmental level and organization-wide, to help staff prepare and respond to incidents ranging from Code Gray situations to an active shooter. Departments can reach out to Public Safety to request a drill or a risk assessment for their work area.
The Public Safety team is certified and undergoes training offered by national safety and security organizations. Public Safety and Emergency Management also closely partner with law enforcement and first responders on drills and training exercises. Just a few weeks ago, Public Safety officers participated in an active shooter drill with the Sarasota Police Department and Sarasota County Schools.
Public Safety has a mass communication notification system that can send organization-wide alerts via text, phone call and/or email in the event of a security threat. (Make sure your correct information is entered into the “MyHR” system under “Personal Details” and “Contact Information.”

“Our goal is to maintain the safest possible workplace, where staff feel supported and patients can get the care they need,” said Public Safety and Emergency Management System Director Jeffery Mangrum.

Public Safety’s Communications Center helps monitor the organization 24/7; for emergencies, contact the team at 917-7233 (SAFE) or 261-7233 at SMH-Venice.