Baystate Wing Hospital Emergency Department
Palmer, Massachusetts
Baystate Wing Hospital Emergency Department
The emergency department at Baystate Wing Hospital worked to decrease
workplace violence by improving the team’s response to aggressive patients on
arrival. A pre-arrival alert is communicated to an ED hospital team, and they greet the patient with EMS or police in the ambulance bay. De-escalation is attempted. If unsuccessful, a plan is developed to mitigate further escalation and move the patient safely to an assigned room cleared of any potentially harmful objects or pieces of equipment. Early intervention in addressing potential aggression before it escalates is crucial for preventing harm.
The staff also participated in an interdisciplinary opioid taskforce, focusing on overdose response, harm reduction and reducing stigma. Narcan was added to AED boxes, while Naloxboxes placed throughout the hospital provide the community with access to lifesaving items, improve availability for bystander access and decrease opioid overdoses. The ED distributes harm-reduction kits to patients which include supplies to ensure cleanliness and safety. The team collaborates with a community resource that provides education to staff on reducing health care worker biases while delivering care to patients with substance abuse history.
workplace violence by improving the team’s response to aggressive patients on
arrival. A pre-arrival alert is communicated to an ED hospital team, and they greet the patient with EMS or police in the ambulance bay. De-escalation is attempted. If unsuccessful, a plan is developed to mitigate further escalation and move the patient safely to an assigned room cleared of any potentially harmful objects or pieces of equipment. Early intervention in addressing potential aggression before it escalates is crucial for preventing harm.
The staff also participated in an interdisciplinary opioid taskforce, focusing on overdose response, harm reduction and reducing stigma. Narcan was added to AED boxes, while Naloxboxes placed throughout the hospital provide the community with access to lifesaving items, improve availability for bystander access and decrease opioid overdoses. The ED distributes harm-reduction kits to patients which include supplies to ensure cleanliness and safety. The team collaborates with a community resource that provides education to staff on reducing health care worker biases while delivering care to patients with substance abuse history.