Wellstar Paulding Medical Center Emergency Department

Hiram, Georgia

Wellstar Paulding Medical Center remains focused on improving the safety of emergency department team members through early recognition and a proactive approach to mitigate incidences of workplace violence. One of the keys to success in this area was developing a Risk of Violence program that allows for flagging the patient’s chart that follows them throughout their journey in the health system. There is also a visible symbol outside the patient’s room to ensure clinical and non-clinical team members are aware of the potential threat before entering the patient’s room. Each risk level has expected precautions that should be in place to maintain staff safety.

Paulding ED also conducted a research project, Healthcare Encounters Are Really Tough (HEART), highlighting its work to create individualized plans for autistic patients in the ED setting. These plans include identified triggers and coping mechanisms that allow the healthcare team to know the best ways to interact with the patient to reduce stress levels for the patient and family.