Strategies for Preventing, Screening, Assessing, and Managing Violence Risk in the Health Sector

Workshop 5: 'Strategies for Preventing, Screening, Assessing, and Managing Violence Risk in the Health Sector'

Kelly Watt, Stephen Hart, and Richard Hart

Violence in the health sector is a serious international problem with health care professionals being one of the leading professionals likely to be victims of violence in the workplace. Violence in the health sector has major implications for victims, perpetrators, and society. It is critical for health care professionals to learn strategies to identify warning signs for violence and to respond safely to prevent violence. When concerns about violence risk are raised it is also critical for health care professional to understand how to assess risk for violence and develop strategies to manage this risk.

This workshop will focus on best practices supported by researchers and practitioners around the world in violence prevention, violence screening, and violence assessment and management that will help health care professionals prevent future harm and protect themselves from potential liability. This workshop will be an excellent compliment to other training health care professionals have had in this area and other initiatives they have led to prevent and manage violence risk.

Specifically, Mr. Richard Hart will review a workplace violence prevention program that will help health care professionals to identify warning signs for violence and to respond safely to prevent violence. Dr. Kelly Watt will introduce a violence triage tool that will assist health care professionals in determining whether a risk for violence exists and prioritizing immediate actions. Dr. Stephen Hart will review structured professional judgment guidelines that will facilitate health care professionals decisions about assessing and managing violence risk.