Faculty:
David D. Kim, MD, PM&R, Henry Ford Health System
Sarah R. Money, MD, PM&R, Henry Ford Health System
Joseph W. Crow, MD, Family Medicine, Henry Ford Health System
Jonathan M. Glauser, MD - Emergency Medicine, MetroHealth
Patrick B. Forrest, MD, Pain Medicine/Anesthesiology, Henry Ford Health System

According to the United States (US) Bureau of Labor Statistics violence toward health care workers occurred at a higher rate than any other industry. The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) reported that the majority of the nonfatal assaults occurred in the service (64%) and retail (21%) sectors. Distribution of assaults in the service sector by industry was as follows: 27% in nursing homes, 13% in social services, and 11% in hospitals. This made healthcare workers, the highest percentage recipients of nonfatal violence. Patients were responsible for the highest percentage of nonfatal workplace assaults at 45%. Unlike nonfatal assaults, workplace homicides occurred most frequently in the retail sector at 38% with services sector at 17%. Among health care workers, physicians were victims of violence at high rates as demonstrated in multiple studies in both the United States and throughout the world

Those who care for chronic pain patients are at high risk for violence although it may be less than other higher risk specialties such as EM, FP, and psychiatry. Patient risk factors for violence appeared to highest in the context of opioid management and disability. Risk mitigation techniques appeared to vary with patient discharge being most common, but a significant number of physicians have felt threatened enough to carry firearms or close their practice. This session is to provide participants with strategies for managing and predicting violence, which includes recognizing warning signs that a patient may be dangerous and practical safeguards and strategies for protecting your patients, staff, and self.