318 - Best Practices for an Occupational Medicine-Led Workplace Violence Prevention Program: The Cleveland Clinic Experience

Session Description: Healthcare workers face workplace violence (WPV) at rates over 5 times higher than other industries, with incidents rising in frequency and severity across all care settings. This session provides OEM professionals with the core knowledge and tools to build and support effective, sustainable WPV prevention programs. Evidence-based practices for preventing and controlling WPV will be explored within the context of Cleveland Clinic's comprehensive program that meets and exceeds regulatory requirements.

In 2025, Cleveland Clinic’s Occupational Medicine Department launched a new Center for Workplace Violence Prevention. Their strategy and program plans will be featured and includes ensuring compliance with state/national WPV standards; implementing an OSHA-based safety program with strong leadership engagement and sustained interventions; using advanced analytics to benchmark WPV data and identify high-risk units; delivering customized de-escalation training and scenario-based drills; and partnering with academics to research and publish proven strategies.

Freely available resources to support WPV program efforts will be provided.

Educational Gaps: • Full scope of WPV related issues and risk in a healthcare setting
• The role of physical environment controls in violence prevention
• Best practices for patient risk assessment of violence and effective communication and response protocols
• Effective strategies to improve violence reporting, after-incident investigation, and victim support
• Effective training approaches

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: Possibly MCOH - awaiting decision

NOTE: This session can be delivered in a one-hour time slot but can be expanded to a 2-3 hour "workshop style" session if the schedule permits. Lynda Enos is the author of a very comprehensive toolkit "Sto p Violence in Health Care: A Toolkit for Prevention and Management of WPV" that has been adapted by the VA and many other large HCOs and can feature and share these tools. See: https://oregonhospitals.org/safety/

Has this session previously been presented?: No

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: The application of evidence-based, data-informed safety, health and well-being programs are essential to protecting employees in settings where workplace violence is notably increasing. When healthcare workers feel safe and are supported, they can provide the most effective patient care and avoid unnecessary stress and burnout. OEM professionals have the unique training, and the program and leadership skills, necessary to keep workers safe from workplace violence events.