A Culture of Safety and Security

Good morning.

Today I want to share the latest developments in the Medical Center’s ongoing efforts to help protect employees, students, patients and visitors from workplace violence and to foster an environment of employee well-being.

We’ve all seen the news reports of violent incidents at health care facilities, supermarkets, malls and other public locations. It’s heartbreaking, and while we cannot control the violent intent of individuals, we can do our very best to put in place policies and procedures to create a safe UMMC community.

Be assured that your safety and security at work is top of mind. As mentioned in a February VC Notes, a cross-functional team of UMMC staff has been working to examine current practices and make recommendations for improvements. The UMMC Workplace Violence Committee includes key stakeholders across the Medical Center, and a number of subcommittees and work groups have been meeting regularly to develop and implement a coordinated effort. I thank them for their commitment and hard work.

I am pleased to share the Medical Center’s campus-wide workplace violence policy has been ratified and is available for review on the intranet. Also, this past Monday, the UMMC Police and Public Safety Department now has designated officers trained in de-escalation techniques rounding regularly in the hospital, to proactively assist clinical staff in de-escalating potentially challenging situations before they progress to the point of violence. I’m grateful for UMMC Police’s dedication and work around implementing this initiative.

This program is the result of an effective and well-received pilot from the spring, when officers regularly rounded on different hospital units and partnered with clinical staff on helping to de-escalate potentially problematic situations involving patients, staff or visitors. The goal is a compassionate patient-centered response to behavioral incidents. Code White will continue to be available for emergency situations.

I cannot stress this enough: UMMC supports all employees and students in their rights to a safe working and learning environment. Please notify a supervisor immediately if you experience or observe violence or potential violence, and call UMMC Police at 601-984-1360 if you feel threatened in any way.

Additional workplace violence prevention efforts include:

• Distribution of a campus-wide HealthStream education and training module on workplace violence prevention and response in August. It will include details about our workplace violence policies and procedures, in addition to tips for de-escalation.
• Availability of other training opportunities on de-escalation from UMMC Police (call 601-984-1360, if interested) and the Communicate with HEART program, focused on effective communication with patients, family members, and coworkers, which is led by the Office of Patient Experience. Class registration for HEART is available now in HealthStream.
• Existing programs, RISE (601-815-7473) and the Employee Assistance Program (866-219-1232), provide support for employees and students who experience violence. Employees and students can also contact the Office of Well Being directly at 601-984-2705or officeofwellbeing@umc.edu. Also, students can obtain no-cost mental health services through the Student Counseling and Wellness Center (call 601-815-5588) or make an appointment.

The Medical Center’s support for our team members extends beyond physical safety to mental and emotional health as well. Using innovative and evidence-based programs, the Office of Well Being (OWB) collaborates with other partners across the Medical Center to promote resilience, well-being, and joy in work among faculty, staff, and learners.

A $3 million Health Resources and Services Administration health care work force resiliency grant funds a range of programs and services the OWB is working diligently to implement. UMMC is one of only 10 institutions across the United States to receive this funding.

UMMC’s grant provides:

• Financial support for clinical employee groups to improve workplace processes that will lower their stress and/or make their work more fulfilling. There is also funding for clinical employees to complete training for certification in Six Sigma process improvement. Interested employees should contact Sondra Redmont at 601-984-2705.
• Implementation of the Interactive Screening Program (ISP), which allows individuals to anonymously complete an online mental health screening and interact with a mental health professional about the results. The mental health professional will help explain results, advise about whether clinical mental health services may be needed, and provide information about how to access care. A small-scale rollout will start in late summer and ISP will be widely available by the end of the year.
• Brief online “Take Five” educational modules addressing key facets of resilience that will be available on the Office of Well Being website in coming months
• Focus groups with clinical staff will take place in September, following recent interviews with health system leaders. Clinical employees who are interested in participating in a focus group may contact the Office of Well Being at 601-984-2705or email officeofwellbeing@umc.edu to be added to the potential participant list. Due to staffing challenges, focus group participation will likely occur outside of shift hours. We will attempt to balance participation across different health care fields.
• In late summer/early fall, the OWB will conduct a survey assessing key aspects of well-being and soliciting input about ways to help promote the well-being of the clinical work force. This is a follow-up to the 2019 assessment conducted using the Well Being Index, shortly after the OWB was created.

To promote healthy relationships between clinicians and administrators, UMMC has initiated 3^rd Conversation, which you can read about here. In-person well-being activities are available across all Medical Center mission areas, including yoga, mindfulness, physical activity, pet therapy, farmers’ markets and informational sessions. Some activities can be conducted within a particular work unit with manager approval, so if interested, contact Sadara Evans at everyday@umc.edu.

I value the hard work you do each day as we aim to fulfill our mission of education, patient care and research and we want you to feel safe on campus. After all, the path to A Healthier Mississippi begins with you.