Take steps to curb violence, improve safety for ED personnel.

While violent eruptions are well documented in the ED, there is a not a lot of research into what strategies are most effective at both curbing violence and managing incidents when they do occur. Experts suggest that ED managers should consider staff training and visible security measures when developing procedures for dealing with violence. In one survey of ED physicians, more than three-quarters reported at least one incident of workplace violence in the previous 12 months. Researchers report that many EDs post security at the point of entry, but lack security coverage in patient care areas. Experts suggest that verbal de-escalation techniques can be helpful in lowering anxiety levels.They also urge ED managers to bring in assistance when the ED is crowded or waiting times are long.