Advancing Workplace Violence Prevention Through Research and Leadership with Dr. Christian Burchill
Becker’s Healthcare PodcastSummary
A significant issue in healthcare is workplace violence, particularly in emergency departments, where incidents are alarmingly common. Dr. Christian Birchall, Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Penn Medicine, shares his personal experience of being assaulted by a patient during a night shift, which redirected his research focus from teamwork to safety in the workplace. He emphasizes that healthcare professionals often face a culture that downplays violence, leading to underreporting of incidents and a lack of necessary safety measures.
Dr. Birchall has developed a survey instrument to measure healthcare workers' perceptions of safety, identifying key factors that contribute to a sense of security, such as institutional support and effective training. He advocates for hospital executives to foster trust by engaging directly with staff who experience violence, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed. By improving communication and implementing targeted interventions based on survey data, healthcare leaders can enhance safety and support for frontline workers.
Show Notes
In this episode, Christian Burchill, PhD, MSN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Research, Evidence-based Practice and Innovation at Penn Medicine and Director of Nursing Research and Evidence-based Practice at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital, shares how his research is helping healthcare organizations better measure staff safety, strengthen reporting, and build safer workplaces through leadership and evidence-based strategies.
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