Health

HEALTH • Fall 2017 19 Pontus been involved in workplace violence prevention for years. A certified occupational health nurse, Pontus educates nurses about safety on the job and provides assistance to victims of workplace violence. Pontus cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data indicating a huge spike in workplace vio- lence incidents. According to BLS, incidents increased 110 percent in private hospitals between 2005 and 2014. Meanwhile, the agency estimated in 2013 that healthcare workers experi- ence workplace violence at rates 5 to 12 times higher than workers overall. Pontus attributes much of the increase to the increasing mental health needs of the population, which is pertinant to Wilson's stabbing, as the suspect O'Regan last month was deemed mentally incompentent to stand trial. In Massachusetts and elsewhere, there is a shortage of psychiatric beds available. More people are also struggling with drug and alcohol abuse. Pontus said much of this presents itself in emergency rooms, where staff- ing is stretched thin. "We believe the secret is to hire more workers and that the system do a better job to protect the work- ers," Pontus said, advocating for steps like creating computer database systems that flag patients who are deemed high risk for violent behavior and installing bulletproof glass in hospital reception areas. Harrington's response Harrington HealthCare, the system that owns Harrington Hospital, has taken a hard look at safety measures and protocols in the aftermath of Wilson's attack. Harrington CEO Edward Moore said he brought in a consulting firm within two days of the incident, to review safety at the hospi- tal's main campus in Southbridge, as well as the Webster campus, which is the site of another emergency room. As a result, Harrington installed metal detec- tors at the entrances of both emergency rooms; equipped staff with panic button necklaces so they can alert security immediately if needed; locked entryways to the emergency room besides the main entrance; and limited visitors in the emergency room. By this month, security staff were also expected to be carrying pepper spray, which Moore said the consultant suggested would be the best line of defense in the event of an attack. Arming security with guns was ruled out, as Moore said he felt that overall safety would be reduced if security guards with armed. Of Elise's Law, Moore said there are parts he supports tremendously, though the portion that deals with adding paid time off for people recov- ering from assault in the workplace is unneces- sary, he said, because worker's compensation poli- cies provide for that already. The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association (MHA), the industry group repre- senting Massachusetts hospitals, has raised con- cerns about the bill but hasn't specified areas to be improved. "I would be pushing harder to have the Legislature require the things that we have done," Moore said. UMass Memorial to add metal detectors Both Moore and UMass Memorial Medical Center CEO Patrick Muldoon visited Wilson in the intensive care unit soon after her attack. Muldoon said Wilson's husband urged him to boost safety efforts, as the chief executive of the region's largest hospital. A formal safety review followed. One result is the decision to install metal detectors at the hospi- tal's two Worcester campuses, which Muldoon said would happen imminently. Given the climate around safety in hospitals, Muldoon said other measures were added this year, but before Wilson was stabbed. For example, a group of about two dozen managers meets daily to discuss safety issues. Muldoon said stories of assault, unfortunately, are frequent. "It just hits home how prevalent workplace vio- lence is," Muldoon said. Wilson nearly bled to death when her brachial artery was severed by a patient she was triaging on the morning of June 14. The suspect, Conor O'Regan, was deemed incompetent to stand trial last month. According to 2011 data from the Occupation- al Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most work-related injuries causing employees to miss work occurred in hospitals, making the field more hazardous than construction and manufacturing. Workplace violence ac- counted for nine percent of injuries results in time away from work for hospital workers. Days away from work Source: OSHA Professional and business services Hospitals Construction Manufacturing Private industry (U.S. average) 157.5 147.4 111.8 105.2 54.5 CASES PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES H P H O T O S / M A T T W R I G H T

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