Harassment and Bullying: A Sepsis in Healthcare and Detriment to Patient and Staff Safety

Why Should You Attend:

Healthcare organizations are said to be at more risk for bullying and harassment than other types of industries. The Joint Commission has recognized the hostile healthcare environment by creating a patient safety standard specifically geared to the “disruptive” behavior among healthcare workers. Research suggests that healthcare workers, especially nurses, are highly likely to be harassed and bullied by physicians, patients and their families, visitors, and co-workers. Often the perpetrator is not held accountable and the misconduct continues resulting in poor morale, turnover, absenteeism, costly lawsuits, and a decrease in quality in patient care. This type of violent behavior occurs in healthcare environments all over the world.

In October of 2016, the 4th International Conference on Violence in Healthcare will occur in Ireland. When reading the conference manual from previous conferences – many of the speakers deal with bullying and harassment.

This webinar will discuss the impact of bullying on quality patient care, what to do if you are bullied or harassed and importance of a code of conduct and harassment policy.

Learning Objective:

• The impact of bullying on quality patient care
• What to do if you are bullied or harassed
• The importance of a code of conduct
• The importance of a harassment policy
• How to prevent harassment and bullying
• Why is healthcare known as such an abusive environment?
• What to do if the organization doesn’t stop the abuse
• Clearly spelled out responsibilities of management when made aware of the abuse
• Steps to prevent harassment and bullying
• Differentiate between harassment and bullying and why it matters
• Where is physician abuse to nurses and others most likely to occur

Areas Covered in the Webinar:

• To define sexual and other protected class harassment as it relates to federal and state laws
• To discuss bullying in healthcare
• To review current research on harassment and bullying in healthcare
• To identify the effects of harassment and bullying on the victim, the work unit, the organization, and patient care
• To discuss The Joint Commission’s patient care standard on disruptive behavior
• To identify steps to take when patients harass or bully staff
• To discuss management’s responsibility in the prevention and intervention of harassment and bullying

Who Will Benefit:

• Senior and middle management in healthcare system such as hospitals, clinics, long term care, home care.
• Front line supervisors within healthcare system
• Human Resources Directors and Managers
• Clinic CEOs/Directors
• HR Trainers in healthcare
• Any health professional

Instructor Profile:

Susan Strauss is a national and international speaker, trainer, consultant and a recognized expert on workplace and school harassment and bullying. She conducts harassment and bullying investigations and functions as an expert witness in harassment and bullying lawsuits. Her clients are from business, education, healthcare, law, and government organizations from both the public and private sector.

Dr. Strauss has conducted research, written over 30 books, book chapters, and journal articles on harassment, bullying, and related topics. She has been featured on 20/20, CBS Evening News and other television and radio programs as well as interviewed for newspaper and journal articles such as Harvard Education Newsletter, Lawyers Weekly, and the Times of London.

She is the recipient of the Excellence in Educational Equity Award from the Minnesota Department of Education for her work in sexual harassment in education. She has spoken about sexual harassment at international conferences in Botswana, Egypt, Thailand, and the U.S. She consulted with the Israeli Ministry of Education, as well as with educators from Israel, England, Australia, St. Martin, Bali, Beirut, and Canada. She traveled to Poland and conducted research on sex discrimination and sexual harassment in Polish workplaces with Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights.

Dr. Strauss has a doctorate in organizational leadership. She is a registered nurse, has a bachelor’s degree in human services and counseling, a master’s degree in community health, and professional certificate in training and development. She has been involved in the harassment and bullying arena since 1985.

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