Coincidence, as defined by Merriam-Webster – (noun): the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection. Coincidence was the topic of discussion in my office today.
Back in 2023, our company, Advanced Health Education Center (AHEC), post-pandemic, wanted to get back out to see, meet, engage, and speak in person with our community. As part of this effort, we planned to attend state society and other organization meetings that we hadn’t recently been able to attend. In 2024, I believe we attended 15 new meetings, and we have plans to do even more in 2025.
Coincidence? For those who volunteer for any organization that hosts a large meeting, it takes months of planning and organizing, juggling schedules, and, in the case of a state society meeting, not just coordinating schedules but also arranging speakers and topics. This is part of why I admire these professionals and all they do to help promote our profession. These dedicated volunteers put out calls for speakers several months in advance, line up topics, get classes approved, and then publish information for attendees.
Last fall, I answered a couple of these calls for speakers and was honored to be selected. I offered a small variety of topics I could present, and overwhelmingly, the most frequently chosen course was Be Aware: Occupational Violence in Healthcare. Now, as we are just weeks away from the spring meetings, the news cycle is filled with multiple stories of healthcare professionals being hurt and abused on the job. Sadly, this is happening across various states and affecting members from all areas of the healthcare team.
Did you know that the number of healthcare workers who reported harassment in 2022 more than doubled compared to those reporting in 2018? Workplace violence includes verbal violence, cyberbullying, physical assault, and even homicide. Sadly, many of us might not think about verbal violence – depending on the unit or area we work in, it may have previously been considered “just part of the job.” However, it takes a toll on providers and should be reported and addressed.
Various government agencies focus on different aspects of occupational violence. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is one of them. In an article, they listed several risk factors that increase the likelihood of workplace violence – some of which I hadn’t considered before, such as high worker turnover, long patient wait times, overcrowded waiting rooms, and unrestricted public access. In a post-pandemic world, these challenges have, unfortunately, become the norm. Coincidence? Or is it the perfect storm that has come together?
Not all hope is lost. Many things can be done to protect our teams, including training, physical changes in the workplace, and other options we will discuss in class. I hope you will join me at the Pennsylvania, Utah, or California Radiologic Technologists’ Society spring meetings. Members of the AHEC/MEDRelief Staffing team will also be at the Missouri, Virginia, and Texas state meetings. If you are unable to attend in person or virtually and would like to learn more, please reach out to me at Advanced Health Education Center at 800-239-1361. I’m happy to discuss this further with you.
Coincidence or not, terrible things are happening in the workplace. We can address them and begin making a difference through understanding and education.
