Joint Commission issues new workplace violence prevention standards

Editor's Note

New and revised workplace violence prevention requirements take effect for Joint Commission-accredited, office-based surgery practices July 1, The Joint Commission announced. 

According to the January 16 announcement, which also announced new and revised standards for accredited assisted living communities and nursing care centers, the updates aim to enhance safety for patients, staff, and visitors while addressing the persistent occupational hazard of workplace violence in healthcare. The changes align with prior updates made for other healthcare sectors, including behavioral health organizations, critical access hospitals, home care providers, and hospitals.

As detailed in the announcement, workplace violence in healthcare often goes underreported, with incidents frequently viewed as minor. To address this, the updated standards provide a structured approach for organizations to develop and refine prevention strategies. The announcement lists the following as key elements:

• A formal definition of workplace violence 
• Worksite analysis processes
• Leadership oversight
• Policies and procedures to prevent workplace violence
• Reporting systems, data collection, and analysis
• Post-incident strategies
• Training and education