The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has outlined expectations of healthcare organizations in addressing the issues of workplace violence. Their memo, QSO-23-04-Hospitals, was released on November 28, 2022. Effective immediately, it directs that organizations are to:
- Identify patients at risk for intentional self-harm or harm to others.
- Identify environmental risks to patient safety.
- Educate and train staff on how to identify at risk patients, environmental risks and mitigation strategies.
Organizations should expect greater focus on workplace violence by CMS surveyors especially the protection of staff and vulnerable patients from the threat of harm. Details can be found in the memo at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-23-04-hospitals.pdf.
Please contact Courtemanche and Associates for questions at 704-573-4535 or info@courtemanche-assocs.com.