Joint press release AUSL-AOU-Sassuolo Spa Hospital
Symbolic meeting in Piazza Grande in Modena, to say no to any form of physical, verbal, psychological aggression, to those who work every day in the local structures
No to violence against staff who work in Modena healthcare facilities. It is a unique voice that was raised today, March 12, from Piazza Grande, by the three DGs of the Modena healthcare companies, Anna Maria PetriniClaudio The wagon and Stefano Reggianitogether with the President of the Social and Health Conference of the Province of Modena Gian Carlo Muzzarellito the health directors of ASL, AOU and Sassuolo Romana BacchusOctavius NicastroSilvio By Tella and representatives of professional associations.
(In the photo: from left; Stefano Reggiani, Luana Valletta, Carla Budriesi and Carmela Giudice)
In fact, in addition to Reggiani in her capacity as Councilor-Treasurer of the Medical Association, Carmela was present GiudicePresident of the Order of Nursing Professions of Modena, Luana Valletta Vice President of the Order of Psychologists of Emilia Romagna, and Carla Stay awake Vice President of the Order of Healthcare Technicians of Medical Radiology and Technical Healthcare Professions of Rehabilitation and Prevention of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
On the occasion of National day of education and prevention against violence against healthcare workers and social-healthcare, established in 2022 to reiterate that any act of violence against a healthcare worker is never justifiable and that dialogue is the main way to resolve any conflictthe data for the year and the actions that healthcare companies are committed to implementing to reduce episodes but also to support their professionals were briefly presented.
The event took place in unity of intent with the local institutions e with all the staff who work in the public healthcare system in the Modena area, engaged in a permanent work table, accompanied by the #respectwhocare campaign, which like the regional one just launched, remains visible in healthcare offices this year too.
The analysis of data relating to reports of violence does not indicate a change in the level of aggression of users but they continue the initiatives implemented to increase the sensitivity of operators – including training courses on the insertion of the reports themselves into the new SegnalER system – aimed at increase awareness of the importance to report every episode of aggression so that it can be recorded and managed as part of the worker protection and support programs envisaged by the Companies. In fact, it should be underlined that reporting attacks is voluntary.
And give
Overall in 2023, 328 episodes of violence were recorded on SegnalER (191 in the various ASL structures, 114 in AOU, 23 at Sassuolo Spa Hospital), 90% by users or relatives/caregivers.
Of the ASL episodes, 20% concern emergency services (PS and 118), 28% mental health services, 52% other services in particular local clinics (19%). Of the AOU episodes, 54% concern the EDs and 64% the inpatient areas which are also the two areas to which almost all of Sassuolo’s reports refer.
As regards the AOU, it is useful to remember that in addition to the data recorded on SegnalER, they are present those resulting from the reports of the Supervisory Service which for 2023 are a further 85 for a total of 199.
Almost all of the reports from the two companies, 78% for Ausl and 77% for Aou, concern verbal attacks and/or attacks against property (structures or things); only in a residual part was there also physical aggression. The 23 cases in Sassuolo also refer to verbal attacks, with a residual part also involving physical attacks or attacks against property.
Actions
As regards the Modena Local Health Authority, in 2023 we worked in particular on the technological aspects for the prevention of attacks and increasing the level of securitywith verification through mapping and subsequent planning of the installation of video surveillance systems, emergency call devices, anti-intrusion systems, security services, focusing in particular on Emergency Room, Mental Health and Continuity of Care services.
A was also created pilot project, promoted and led by a Workers’ Safety Representative, which involves the provision of a so-called “man down” device for the activation of an emergency response in the event of aggression, injury or illness of an operator who finds himself carrying out his work activity within a structure in conditions of isolation. The system, activated for now in Pavullo’s laboratory, involves sending a call requesting intervention when a button on the device is pressed or the device reclines for a certain amount of time.
To ensure greater safety for operators and citizens within the ED of the Polyclinic, the Modena University Hospital has moved the headquarters of the Surveillance Service to the entrance of the structure. Furthermore, the monitors in the waiting rooms transmit, in addition to videos relating to messages on prevention and combating any type of violent or aggressive behaviour, also contents that explain the functioning of the Emergency Department with the aim of making citizens understand waiting for what happens beyond the triage doors and therefore promoting their awareness of the great work carried out daily by the operators. Furthermore, the “device with man down functionality” was also adopted in the Polyclinic in 2023 in the Virology laboratory, in which the operator works alone in certain time slots.
AUSL and AOU have strengthened the collaborations with the police to ensure timely intervention in the event of an attack recorded in the emergency rooms and in general in healthcare facilities in the area; the listening groups aimed at the teams working in critical areas continue, the training courses for health and social-health personnel on strategies for the prevention and management of aggression and acts of violence, verbal and otherwise, on “relationship care” and on all issues aimed at spreading a culture of contrasting every act of violence and strengthening positive relationships. Last but not least, companies actively offer a psychological support as an aid to those who are victims of aggression in the hope of helping them overcome the stress of the trauma experienced.
Violence against healthcare workers – When we talk about “violence” in the workplace we mean all events ranging from insults to verbal threats, up to physical aggression, with potentially very serious outcomes. Compared to other categories of workers, healthcare and social-healthcare personnel are among the most exposed, as they deal with people – be they patients, family members or caregivers – who may find themselves in conditions of delicate psychophysical balance conditioned by strong emotionality, vulnerability or, in some cases, even frustration.
A permanent working table and an annual report on episodes of violence – The three Modena health companies together with the professional associations and the Modena Territorial Social and Health Conference want to carry out a common work to reiterate the importance of respect towards those who take care of our well-being. Education and prevention are the parallel paths that we want to bring to public attention on the occasion of the National Day against violence against health and social-health workers which was celebrated on 12 March 2024. All the information on the dedicated pages www.aou.mo.it/Rispetta-chi-cura e www.ausl.mo.it/Rispetta-chi-cura
Last update: March 12, 2024