Aggression and violence are particularly important issues in the healthcare system. This was the result of a survey published yesterday by the Vienna Medical Association and carried out among doctors in practices and hospitals. The figures that the Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) has been collecting regularly across the company for almost two decades confirm this picture. In order to comprehensively protect its employees from violence and aggression, WIGEV has been taking effective countermeasures for many years.
Insight into the clinic
Clinics are places where people often find themselves in exceptional situations. This applies in general and in particular to central emergency rooms, acute geriatric wards or psychiatry. Harald Stefan, Head of Nursing in the General Psychiatric Department of the Landstrasse Clinic and an expert on the topic of aggression and violence for many years, says: “Almost 40 percent of our patients are acute psychiatric patients. This means that their admission was ordered and is not of their own volition.”
Under such circumstances, potential for aggression can arise, which must be managed by employees.
Strategy against violence and aggression
The WIGEV has very precise data on the subject of aggression and violence, which has been collected regularly for many years. Only in 2019 and 2022 were two large-scale data collections carried out among all 30,000 employees – with a response rate of 15-20% each. The results are in line with the international average and have not changed significantly during the pandemic. In a 12-month period, half of the employees experienced verbal aggression, and one in four employees experienced physical attacks such as spitting, pushing or hitting. The Vienna Health Association uses this data to identify hotspots at an early stage and to counteract them with appropriate measures such as architectural changes, technical equipment, training, cooperation with the “Grätzlpolizei” or support through increased deployment of security personnel.
Successful violence prevention
Effective violence prevention requires the topic to be strategically anchored in the organizational structure. Across companies, the central security board for violence prevention and aggression management identifies topics relating to the phenomena of aggression, violence and security. In order to be able to better identify existing potential for aggression, specific situations and their possible precursors are analyzed afterwards. “Because aggression doesn’t start with someone hitting you.”
explains Stefan.
Recognize harbingers
A particular focus is on prevention work. In the Vienna Health Association, this includes measures and strategies that aim to prevent violent incidents and strengthen the feeling of security of employees and patients. In special de-escalation management training, employees learn, for example, how to deal with aggression and violence.
Security works in silence
The General Psychiatric Department of the Landstrasse Clinic had around 1,500 outpatient contacts and almost 1,200 inpatient stays last year. In 2014 it moved from a building dating back to 1907 to the new building. Coercive measures and necessary de-escalations have declined sharply since then. The premises also play an important role in creating a non-violent organization. These include wide, light-flooded corridors, atmospherically pleasant lounges and patient rooms that maintain privacy. To protect employees, all treatment rooms in the General Psychiatric Department of the Landstrasse Clinic generally have two entrances and exits. This means employees have the opportunity to leave the room at any time. “Security works here quietly and is not flaunted.”
so Stefan.
The building was awarded first place in the Hospitalconcepts Award 2022 for the successful interplay of healing environment and safety – from which patients as well as the employees of the Landstrasse Clinic benefit.
Links: Psychiatry – Vienna Health Association – Landstrasse Clinic