Active assailant incidents in healthcare facilities present one of the most extreme challenges for staff, patients, and security professionals. While the primary goal in any such event is always to escape from danger if possible, circumstances may arise where escape is not an option. In these rare but high-risk situations, individuals must rely on a contingency plan that includes barricading,...

Healthcare organizations conduct regular safety drills to prepare for emergencies ranging from fires and natural disasters to active shooters and mass casualty events. These drills typically focus on logistics, protocols, and technical procedures—evacuating patients, establishing command centers, allocating resources, and coordinating with external agencies.

Most healthcare organizations have meticulously developed protocols for nearly every physical safety concern. There are specific steps to follow for needle sticks, detailed procedures for patient falls, and precise methods for handling hazardous materials. When it comes to verbal abuse, however, many institutions offer little more than general advice to "stay calm" or "be professional."

As we...

In healthcare environments, unpredictability is often the spark that ignites workplace violence. When patients, families, or even staff don't know what to expect—or when responses to similar situations vary dramatically—tension rises and the potential for conflict increases exponentially.

As we observe National Safety Month this June, it's worth exploring how consistency in communication serves...

Healthcare executives face unprecedented challenges in supporting staff mental health amid rising workplace stressors, including increased violence, staffing shortages, and pandemic aftereffects. This Mental Health Awareness Month provides an opportunity for leadership self-assessment: Are you implementing comprehensive strategies that truly protect psychological well-being, or merely offering...

Healthcare professionals enter the field with a desire to help others, but many find themselves facing a reality far removed from this noble intention. In reality, they often become targets of verbal abuse, threats, and physical violence from the very people they're trying to help. While the physical dangers of workplace violence have started to receive significant attention, the psychological...

In an increasingly litigious healthcare environment, organizations face growing exposure to liability claims related to workplace interactions. From patient confrontations to staff disputes, how your team communicates directly impacts your legal and financial risk. Effective verbal defense training offers a powerful risk mitigation strategy with a measurable return on investment.

During the class, the instructors learned how to respond to institutional emergencies that include disturbance emergencies, medical emergencies, fire emergencies, and miscellaneous emergencies such as weather...

If you have ever responded to a behavioral emergency in a professional setting, such as a hospital or school, you might recall experiencing a lot of uncoordinated activity among a group of highly educated, capable, and well-meaning professionals. They may even have seemed to make things worse, rather than better. In retrospect, you might not even be able to put your finger on exactly what went...