June 18, 2025
Workplace violence in healthcare isn’t just a frontline issue—it’s an enterprise-wide risk. Nearly 50% of healthcare workers have reported workplace violence (WPV) incidents in the past decade, according to OSHA. Yet, most hospitals still lack a system-wide strategy to address the issue.
At AONL 2025, Indiana University Health shared a five-stage prevention framework that’s not only improving reporting rates but also improving trust between staff and leadership. Their initiative, titled “Safer Together,” offers an adaptable roadmap for hospital systems ready to positively act on this growing crisis.
Why a Systematic, Evidence-Based WPV Strategy Is Urgent
WPV doesn’t just cause physical harm. It compromises team morale, quality of care, and patient safety. A 2021 survey cited in the poster revealed that less than half of 9,000+ nurses felt their organization valued their health and safety—an 18% decline since 2018.
In 2022, The Joint Commission responded with new requirements mandating the development of comprehensive WPV programs. That guidance helped shape IU Health’s five-stage approach, which finds a balance between regulatory alignment with culture change and staff empowerment.
The Five Stages of IU Health’s WPV Strategy Development
- Gap Analysis – Reviewing current evidence-based practice and Joint Commission standards
- Staff Assessment – Understanding how team members perceive safety and reporting
- Taskforce Formation – Creating cross-functional ownership and leadership
- Framework Design – Developing strategic goals and visual priorities
- Execution – Rolling out policy changes, awareness campaigns, and support systems
Crucially, this wasn’t a top-down initiative. IU Health empowered team members to lead and shape these solutions—a shift that impacted culture and participation.
Results: Increased Reporting and Improved Staff Experience
From 2020 to Q4 2024, WPV incident reporting tripled—from 128 to 458 cases. Rather than indicating a rise in violence, this signals increased trust and awareness, as team members felt safer reporting incidents.
Even more promising: Staff-reported workplace experience scores increased from 77.1 in Q4 2023 to 84.1 by Q4 2024.
This proves that prevention is not just about signage or policies—it’s about supporting psychological safety and demonstrating leadership accountability.
Strategic Tactics That Made a Difference
IU Health didn’t just change protocols—they changed visibility and communication culture in the workplace. Key components of their success included:
- Public Signage to set behavioral expectations
- Awareness Videos featuring team member testimony
- Post-Assault Support with defined resources and follow-up
These seemingly small actions reinforced a big message: you matter, and we’ve got your back.
What Health System Leaders Should Take Away
Hospital and system executives must view WPV as a strategic risk that impacts staff retention, litigation exposure, regulatory standing, and patient safety.
What IU Health demonstrated at AONL 2025 is this: tackling workplace violence effectively requires not just protocols, but engagement, ownership, and sustained visibility.
As one takeaway: don’t just measure the absence of violence. Measure the presence of psychological safety.
Conclusion: Safer Teams Deliver Better Care
By embedding workplace violence prevention into the cultural fabric—not just the compliance checklist—IU Health is building a healthier, more resilient workforce. Their success should serve as a call to action for systems everywhere.
Interested in building a WPV strategy that staff trust and leadership can scale?
Start with data. Lead with action. And make safety a shared responsibility.