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Behavioral Health and Well-Being
Concurrent

Critical Care Under Siege: Safeguarding ICU Teams From Workplace Violence

Monday, March 23, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Central Time
Location: W187

This session will address the alarming rise in violent interactions against clinicians in critical care settings. ICU physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, advanced practice providers, and administrators are increasingly confronting aggression from patients and visitors—from verbal threats to physical attacks. Speakers will explore practical strategies for preventing and de-escalating violence, promoting a culture of safety, and protecting ICU teams. Real case studies, including high-profile hospital violence incidents, will be analyzed to extract lessons and innovative approaches to violence mitigation. The session will empower attendees with evidence-based tools and action plans to make their critical care environments safer for staff and patients alike. Each speaker has been exposed to victims of violence in critical care settings or has been a victim of violence themselves and will provide real-life action plans.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify common triggers and early warning signs of escalating agitation or violence in ICU settings
  • Apply at least two effective de-escalation techniques to defuse tense situations with patients or families before they turn violent
  • Outline key components of a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program, such as reporting systems, staff training, security protocols, and post-incident support
  • Explore emerging tools and innovative strategies, such as personal panic alarms, environmental design changes, and simulation-based training, to enhance staff safety and preparedness
  • Implement an action plan fostering a zero tolerance culture of safety in the ICU, engaging leadership and frontline staff in ongoing violence prevention efforts

Presentations:

  • 11:05 AM - 11:20 AM Central Time
    Code Calm: Recognizing and De-escalating Danger on the Front Line

    Shari A. Toomey, MBA, RRT, NPS, FCCM – Carilion Clinic

  • 11:20 AM - 11:35 AM Central Time
    Building a Violence-Free ICU

    Gil Allen, MD, FCCM (he/him/his) – University of Vermont Medical Center

  • 11:35 AM - 11:50 AM Central Time
    Innovate to Mitigate: Emerging Strategies to Combat Workplace Violence

    Lewis J. Kaplan, MD, FACS, FCCP (he/him/his) – Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania