It’s up to us as healthcare workers to advocate for ourselves and peers, to help ensure everyone goes home to their family at the end of their workday.” -Jennifer Holley, PA-C
Face-to-Face with Workplace Violence
The NCAPA recently interviewed member and Central Coastal Plains Association of PAs President, Jennifer Holley, PA-C, on her harrowing experience when she came face-to-face with workplace violence after an individual entered the outpatient clinic she worked at. PA Holley shares how healthcare environments can take small yet impactful steps towards preventing and raising awareness for workplace violence, in observation of April being Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month.
“Last year, I was a victim of a random act of violence,” Holley says. “We had someone enter our building and rob our practice. This individual ended up assaulting me with a gun in their hands. Unfortunately, they ended up breaking my jaw in several places and I had to have surgery in Chapel Hill. Now, I am dealing with the aftermath of it all.”
During this difficult time, Holley states that she is incredibly grateful for the team she works with. “I know stories of individuals having experienced workplace violence who have had to take PTO to deal with restraining orders, take off work to speak with the DA, etc.,” she explains. “The doctor and the whole staff I work with have been very supportive with giving me time to heal. Additionally, Dr. Clarke immediately put together a heightened security plan in place with cameras and mirrors around the corners.”
How a First-Hand Encounter Turned to Hands-on Advocacy
“I was fortunate enough to be able to speak alongside Representative Tim Reeder, MD at the North Carolina Medical Society’s recent Advocacy Summit about the legislative work being done to support healthcare workers and improve overall safety in our workplaces,” Holley shares. “We discussed how nearly 71% of workplace violence is in healthcare. Folks immediately think of the ER and those settings; but we don’t immediately think about outpatient medicine as a place of danger.”
In 2023, the Hospital Violence Protection Act, spearheaded by Representative Tim Reeder, MD, was enacted. This legislation was initially introduced as stand-alone bill, HB809, Workforce Violence Prevention Act. Provisions of the Workforce Violence Prevention Act were included in HB125, NC Health & Human Services Workforce Act. Click here to learn more.
This brings her to the whole reason for sharing her story. PA Holley explains that she is now advocating for the simple things that people can do to make their workplace. “There are definitely things that people can do to have a more secure workplace. I want to help people realize that incidents can happen, but there’s also things you can do right now.”
Advice for PAs and Providers on Workplace Violence Prevention and Awareness
- Be aware of your environment. “The individual that robbed our practice was sitting in their car outside of our building for a long time before the incident occurred. One of our staff assumed that they were with one of our patients, waiting for them after their appointment. I think in a time when we’re worried about wanting great patient satisfaction scores and prioritizing courtesy and politeness, I want to emphasize that it is okay to also question things that may seem out of the ordinary.”
- Invest in triple-layers of security. “The authorities immediately asked me after the incident, ‘Where are your cameras?’ And I had to say, ‘We don’t have any.’ A simple camera can make a difference to help identify individuals or capture a record of the event. These simple things can be purchased from the hardware store,” she states. “Examples can be a simple Ring/Arlo camera, mirrors on corners, automatic locks on doors, keypads, etc.”
- Emphasize and normalize security discussions. “We need to talk about workplace violence, what that can look like, and reaffirm an open discussion that can be had safely and without repercussions. This discussion can be just as routine as OSHA and HIPAA discussions. This can eventually lead to muscle memory to help minimize these threats.”
- Address an issue before it escalates and possibly worsens. For individuals that may be hesitant to report an incidence of workplace violence, PA Holley addresses that “fear of retaliation is a real thing. Whether you’re the individual wanting to report, or in a position where you are managing the clinic, being open goes a long way in reaffirming that environment of transparency and prevention.”
- Get involved, be a voice, and advocate for you and your fellow healthcare workers. “I would encourage anyone to seek out more information in the legislation. We are wonderfully aware of patient rights, but we also have rights as healthcare workers to be in a safe place to carry out our care. You can be an advocate at your own level where you’re working at. Bring up discussions and scenarios, discuss the need for safety protocols and drills, and maybe go as far as to mockup a scenario for preparedness.”
Jennifer Holley is a PA in Goldsboro, NC, currently working in family medicine in a private practice. Holley, who is also a graduate of the Campbell PA Program, is the President of the Central Coastal Plains Association of PAs, a regional chapter of the NCAPA.