Workplace violence prevention standardization using lean principles across a healthcare network
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 9 July 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the process used to standardize a Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) within a five-hospital healthcare system in Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
Design/methodology/approach
A description of the lean process improvement principles, used to bring the WVPP into compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other agencies through streamlining/standardizing processes.
Findings
There was significant standardization in both the threat assessment and education arms of the WVPP. Compliance with all major US Department of Labor OSHA requirements, as well as substantial time savings, were realized as part of this process improvement.
Originality/value
VHA is leading the way in inter/multidisciplinary assessment and mitigation of workplace violence, however, there are significant competing demands on staff time. This first ever use of lean principles to streamline processes around workplace violence prevention freed up clinician time for care while improving internal and external customer satisfaction, representing a major step forward in workplace violence risk mitigation.
Keywords
Citation
Hutton, S.A., Vance, K., Burgard, J., Grace, S. and Van Male, L. (2018), "Workplace violence prevention standardization using lean principles across a healthcare network", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 31 No. 6, pp. 464-473. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-05-2017-0085
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited