NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - It's sometimes dangerous to work in a hospital, and it's not just because of germs or viruses.
Healthcare workers are five times more likely to be attacked in the workplace, but a university program is helping to provide the tools to keep them safe as they enter into the healthcare industry.
"We had a partner that expressed a need a while back to have something to offer their employees to de-escalate the situations that were happening," explained Dr. Lisa Beasley, the assistant professor director of the Center for Community and Global Partnerships with the UT Health Science Center, College of Nursing in Memphis. "They were recognizing in their hospital; it seemed like things had been increasing."
Beasley is talking about attacks on healthcare workers. This year, News 2 has been reporting on several incidents involving nurses being assaulted by patients. The latest incident happened last week and left one nurse with a head injury.
"This is a problem, and it's not a right of passage," explained Beasley.
She went on to explain how often these types of cases frequently go unreported.
"The experience of some nurses when a knife or a gun or something is pulled in an emergency department situation believe that's kind of expected; that's just what happens and being assaulted, whether it's verbally or physically, is something that just happens, and if it's something that happens, it's accepted and it's not acceptable," Beasley said.
To make sure those in the health care field know to prioritize their safety, the school offers a program on managing aggressive patients. Management of Aggressive Patient Situations (MAPS) "is a two-day, train-the-trainer certification program designed by mental health experts and tailored for the unique needs of health care providers and patients. MAPS integrates verbal strategies for de-escalation, communication skills, and simulation experiences in clinical settings."
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The program focuses on making sure the safety of staff members is essential. The training proves to be important because 1 in 4 healthcare workers report physical assault by a patient or a patient's family member.
"One of the techniques is to 'STOP,' put your hand up to that patient and stop them," Beasley demonstrated, explaining how you can use this technique without physically touching a patient. "First of all, throws them off from what they were thinking they were going to say, and it is an unexpected response from the provider to the patient."
A 2018 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed healthcare workers were five times more likely to be attacked in the workplace than other private sector workers.
The reality of what is happening inside of hospitals and clinics has caught the attention of Tennessee lawmakers.
"How do you find the words to express the raw pain and deep and profound sadness you feel from the loss of a sibling in such a senseless way?" said Sam Mauck, as he spoke before lawmakers about his brother.
In July 2023, Orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Mauck was shot and killed by a patient inside a Collierville clinic in the Memphis area. The shooter was identified by police as 29-year-old Larry Pickens. Authorities said the suspect was apprehended outside the clinic five minutes after the shooting.
Less than a year later, Benjamin's family went before state lawmakers to push a bill named in his honor.
"A week prior, the same patient verbally threatened his life and the lives of his fellow colleagues, but on that faithful day, Ben knew what he had to do. He calmly saw the patient, hoping to heal pain while trying to protect other clinic staff," Sam said.
The bill, named the "Dr. Benjamin Mauck Act," redefines a "healthcare facility" to mean the portion of an institution, place, building, or office devoted to providing healthcare services, including the reception and administrative areas of the facility.
"I've had moments where it has been difficult to contain my emotions; I've had patients that have scared me to the point where I could no longer provide them care. Since Ben's death, our family has wrestled. We're trying to understand why he was taken from us so senselessly and why the systems put in place to keep us safe failed him so tragically," Sam said while reading a statement from Benjamin's sister.
The bill is currently awaiting Gov. Bill Lee's signature after passing in the House and Senate. If signed, it would take effect July 1.