Workers Who Feel Unsafe Underperform and Ponder Quitting. Your Colleagues Could Be Among Them

Multiple sources from within the United States medical establishment are sounding the alarm that workplaces across the country are not necessarily safe for healthcare workers. We’re not talking about the risks inherent in showing up for work in the midst of a deadly pandemic, either. First the American Hospital Association wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, imploring the AG use the influence of his office to support legislation that would offer healthcare workers protection similar to those afforded flight crews and airport workers in the U.S. And now JAMA Network Open has published a research article revealing that over 23% of physicians surveyed reported experiencing “mistreatment” within the year preceding September to October 2020. That mistreatment (categorized as sexual harassment or abuse; verbal mistreatment or abuse; or physical intimidation, violence, or abuse) came predominantly from patients and visitors as opposed to colleagues, nurses, other staff, or leadership. The self-reported consequences of said mistreatment included burnout, depression, and diminished job performance and satisfaction. Further, most participants reported there are insufficient protections offered at present. JUCM tackled the sensitive topic of sexual harassment at the hands of the patient in urgent care. For more insights into that important issue, read #MeToo in the Urgent Care Center: When the Perpetrator Is a Patient.