Joint Commission and CMS Workplace Violence Standards

Workplace Violence has escalated over the past 15 years, especially in the healthcare arena. Such violence is directed at providers and staff, but also towards family members and others with injuries frequently occurring to bystanders such as healthcare providers. As of July 1, 2023, The Joint Commission’s updated standards on Workplace Violence became effective. These standards included requirements for monitoring, reports, and investigations.

In November 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), issued a memo regarding workplace safety addressing care in a safe environment. This program will cover CMS standards for workplace safety and Emergency Preparedness standards, along with The Joint Commission’s Standards and Elements of Performance.

• Discuss the recent updates to The Joint Commission’s Workplace Violence standards
• Discuss the three areas within the standards impacted by the updates – Environment of Care, Human Resources and Leadership
• Recall CMS’s recent memo of November 2022, regarding workplace violence and providing a safe environment for care

• Topics to be covered
• General information on Joint Commission and CMS
• Workplace Violence Statistics
• TJC Standards on Workplace Violence
  • Definitions
  • Environment of care
  • Risk Assessments
  • Worksite analysis
  • Monitoring
  • Reports and Investigations
  • Human resources
  • Leadership’s role
• OSHA/Department of Labor guidelines
• Joint Commission’s Emergency Management/Preparedness
• CMS Workplace Violence standards
• Appendix and Resources

• Patient Safety Officers
• Senior Leaders including CEO, COO, CNO, CMO, etc.
• Risk managers and staff
• TJC accreditation director
• Compliance officers
• CMS regulatory compliance staff
• Department directors
• Nurses
• Nurse Educators
• Nurse managers and supervisors
• Quality improvement director and staff
• Anyone responsible to ensure the quality and safety of patients and to ensure compliance with CMS or TJC standards