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Workplace Safety

In both 2024 and 2025, SDAHO was awarded the South Dakota Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) Grant to support members through targeted training and valuable resources. This ongoing funding enables SDAHO to gather member feedback, deliver in-person training to Critical Access Hospitals, and provide accessible tools and guidance to all members.

Video available to SDAHO members

Based on input from hospital staff, the 2025 training focused specifically on hospital risk assessments and de-escalation techniques. As part of this initiative, the following video—funded by the SD FLEX Program—serves as a visual guide to help healthcare facilities critically evaluate their operational procedures and physical environments. Its goal is to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that staff are well-equipped to respond effectively to safety or security incidents.

 

Webinar Recordings

Escalation Awareness |  Recording

Overview: One of the most critical components of curbing violence in the workplace is the ability to recognize that there is a threat. This webinar will walk through the key factors that indicate escalating behavior in workplace violence and the resulting action that should be taken. This session will address methods to improve situational awareness and recognize escalating behavior before violence occurs. 

Mitigation Strategies | Recording

Overview: This session will review strategies and practical methods to mitigate the impact of violence. This includes improvements to the physical environment, identification and response procedures. Lisa will discuss awareness of environmental and procedural mitigation strategies. 
 
Risk Evaluation & Gap Measurement | Recording
 
Overview: This session will review methods to evaluate work environments for the risk of workplace violence, and track, analyze and evaluate the data. During this webinar you will learn deployable methods of evaluating the risk of workplace violence in different health care settings. 
 

Reducing Point of Care Violence | Recording

Overview: This sessions will explore effective methods to reduce and deter violence at the bedside. Attendees will learn essential skills to proactively prevent and manage potential violence in a clinical setting. 
 
Defusing Angry Patients at your Front Desk | Recording
 
Overview: Dealing with angry or upset patients can be one of the most stressful aspects of working at the front desk. This session will explore the dynamics of identifying angry or potentially violent patients and visitors in healthcare settings. It will cover the key warning signs and factors that contribute to escalating aggression, while emphasizing the importance of early recognition and intervention. Participants will learn practical strategies to de-escalate tense situations, including the role of proxemics, active listening, problem-solving, and teamwork. By understanding these critical elements, caregivers will be equipped to take proactive measures that minimize the risk of violence and foster a calm, safe environment, ensuring the best possible outcomes for all parties involved.

Active Shooter Prevention and Response Program for Healthcare | Recording

Overview: Active shooter situations require specialized protocols, especially within health care facilities. This session will equip you with strategies to prevent and respond effectively to such events. Topics include recognizing potential threats, implementing preventative measures, creating evacuation plans, and understanding the critical role of healthcare staff during a crisis. With actionable insights, you’ll be better prepared to protect patients, visitors, and colleagues during these rare but vital moments.

Workplace Safety Facility Risk Assessment | member exclusive resource | Video

This visual guide is designed to assist healthcare facilities in critically evaluating their own operational procedures and physical environments. The goal is to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that their teams are well-prepared to respond effectively to any safety or security incident.

Micro Learning

What is Workplace Violence

Preventing Workplace Violence

Recognizing Escalating Behavior

Verbal DeEscalation

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer:

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $866,675 with 0% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $775,690 with 0% percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

The information included in this website is not intended to be an exhaustive or exclusive repository of publicly available resources related to workplace violence prevention. Also, this website does not indicate an endorsement of the sources included or of any particular product, health care organization, or service, and should not be construed as a statement that the source, health care organization, or its products or services, are superior to those of another source. Many of the resources included on this website were not developed or validated by SDAHO. The approaches to workplace violence prevention included in this website are not inclusive of all organizational approaches that may be successful. Any strategies applied should be tailored by organizations to meet the unique needs of their settings, employees, and patient populations. By accessing and using the website and resources, the website’s users agree to make no claim of any kind against SDAHO for any and all damages that result from use or implementation of any website content. Users should be aware that, depending on the date they are viewed, some or all of the information contained in this website may not be up to date.

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