UF Health Jacksonville Emergency Department

Jacksonville, Florida

In 2023, the ED staff at UF Health Jacksonville focused on workplace violence solutions aimed at addressing incidents involving agitated behavioral health patients. With 90 reported events, the need for a structured response was evident. The team, consisting of emergency medicine physicians, ED RNs, ED techs and security, strategized an alternative to proactively address new arrival patients to the ED in a setting to reduce harm. Through collaboration with the local sheriff’s office, the team established a protocol akin to critical trauma responses. Upon receiving advanced notification from dispatch, the team initiates a “psychiatric resus” protocol, gathering at a designated entrance to collaborate with law enforcement. This approach enables staff members to de-escalate situations and implement safety precautions in a controlled manner, ensuring the well-being of both staff and patients. Post-stabilization, patients receive continued monitoring in clinical settings.

The initiative significantly enhanced workplace safety through improved preparedness and response capabilities. It fostered stronger partnerships between the staff at the 92-bed ED and law enforcement, and it promoted a cohesive approach to managing high-risk incidents. This collaborative effort streamlined response procedures as well as mitigated chaos and vulnerability during critical moments.