Violence in the healthcare setting has been an ongoing issue for healthcare professionals. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and social services workers are five times more likely to experience violence in the hospital setting than all other workers. The high incidence of violence in healthcare settings has resulted in The Joint Commission’s (TJC) creation and release of new and revised Workplace Violence Prevention Requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2022, for all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals and critical access hospitals.
The new requirements are aimed at preventing workplace violence by identifying risk factors and implementing strategies to mitigate those risks. While the new requirements are a step in the right direction, it is important for healthcare organizations to continue to work towards creating a safe and healthy workplace for all healthcare professionals.