Addressing Workplace Violence in Healthcare: Readiness and Recovery Strategies

Help protect the professionals who care for us.

Workplace violence is unacceptable in any industry—but for healthcare workers, it’s a disturbingly common threat. 

Every day, nurses, doctors, mental health counselors, emergency medical technicians, and support staff face the risk of verbal abuse, physical attacks, or worse—often from patients, their patients’ families, and other visitors.

The stats are staggering:

• Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience violence than workers in other occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• 8 in 10 nurses experienced at least one type of workplace violence in 2023 (National Nurses United)

• Hospital violence has led more than 26% of healthcare workers to consider quitting (American College of Surgeons) 

What Healthcare Employers Can Do to Help Prevent Workplace Violence

Preventing and mitigating workplace violence isn’t just the right thing to do; it should be considered a non-negotiable. Fortunately, you can find expert-backed guidance everywhere from the American Hospital Association’s website to the National Library of Medicine. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention does a great job of aggregating various suggestions; on their site, they advise:

• Implementing violence prevention programs using guidelines established by OSHA

• Providing training in workplace violence such as the NIOSH free online training

• Meeting standards for workplace violence prevention set forth by The Joint Commission

• Collaborating with other institutions, organizations, and other beneficiaries to implement best practices for workplace violence prevention in the healthcare industry

• Creating a formal system for threat assessment after a first incident, to understand the drivers for the assault

• Incorporating tracking systems in the clinical chart/records management system

What Healthcare Employers Can Offer to Plan for the Worst

Even the best prevention programs can’t eliminate every risk. That’s why smart healthcare organizations prepare for the worst by putting financial and emotional safeguards in place. 

American Trauma Insurance works with healthcare systems around the world to offer specialized insurance products that provide real support when it’s needed most. There are two products, in particular, that can offer immense help:

Trauma Coverage

Trauma Coverage is designed to support healthcare workers after violence occurs. It includes:

• Confidential trauma counseling

• Recuperation benefits for out-of-pocket expenses

• Lost wage benefits (100% of your regular pay across all jobs)

• Student financial assistance

• Accidental death benefits for beneficiaries

All four plan levels cover a wide range of incidents, including:

• Aggravated and sexual assaults

• Mass shootings and terrorist attacks

• Accidental death

• Work-related disease transmission

Workplace Violence Expense Insurance

Another product that’s popular within the healthcare industry is Workplace Violence Expense Insurance. Our coverage is extremely comprehensive, offering benefits for both employers and employees, such as:

• Fees for crisis-management consultants

• Public relations expenses

• Salaries for victim employees and temporary staff

• Occupational training for returning to work

• Medical, dental, and cosmetic care

• Rest and rehabilitation expenses for victims and their family members

• Legal fees and litigation expenses

• Loss-of-life benefits 

The best part? Every policy is customizable—based on your workforce size, risk exposure, and specific concerns.

Ready to build a safer place for your staff?

Request a quote today and learn how we can help you protect your most valuable asset—your people—while they’re busy helping to protect everyone else.

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