Report recommends statewide de-escalation training, better reporting to curb workplace violence in Vermont hospitals

Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care (VPQHC) presented a report to the House Healthcare committee March 13 that found wide variation among Vermont hospitals in workplace-violence prevention programs and recommended statewide, standardized de-escalation training and improved incident reporting.

The report, prepared under Act 24 and based on research conducted in 2023, used a statewide hospital assessment, five focus groups and a literature review to compare Vermont hospitals’ practices to best practices. "Workplace violence is a serious problem in health care in Vermont and nationally," VPQHC Executive Director Hilary Wolfley told the committee.

The nonprofit described several strengths — including hospitals’ stated commitment to staff safety and post-incident support — and several common challenges: inconsistent de-escalation training, gaps in…