Even in the face of seasonal pressures, Safe Hub can get lone healthcare workers the help they need.
As the song goes, it's the most wonderful time of the year. But for healthcare workers, the holiday season can be taxing. There are always seasonal pressures, arising from the increased circulation of respiratory diseases in the winter months. And of course, in 2021, this has only been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Yet even beyond the pandemic, many healthcare staff must deal with people in distress daily. Sadly, with this distress can come violence, threats, and abuse. In this blog, we take a look at three lone-working scenarios for healthcare employees in the holidays, and how we can help.
1. Protecting lone home healthcare workers for the holidays
There are many obvious lone working roles in the healthcare sector. Indeed, there are millions of midwives, physiotherapists, and in-home care support workers across the US. With home healthcare, nurses and other home visitors face a range of risks that come from working separately from co-workers. There is much that these workers can do to mitigate the potential risks they face. Before visiting a location, home healthcare workers must have up-to-date information. This may include whether there is an animal in the house, the individual’s behavior (for instance, if there is drug or alcohol use), and the physical environment. But there are times when these workers may need help in a hurry.
2. Safety for all lone healthcare workers in hospitals and healthcare facilities
It’s worth bearing in mind the sheer volume of interactions that healthcare lone workers have with people across the US. During every consultation when the door is closed, doctors and practitioner nurses are technically lone workers. For individuals in these frontline roles, many employers provide specialist training around conflict resolution. But what about the employees delivering ancillary services at hospitals and other healthcare facilities? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has some useful information on violence prevention programs in hospitals (Visit their site here>). All employees can benefit from training on such issues as active listening and empathy, through to reading body language and maintaining a neutral posture. Even so, in a crisis, every lone healthcare worker needs someone to contact.
3. Lone pharmacy workers may be on their own and in need of help
It’s obvious that the health system in the US is massive and complex. What’s easier to ignore is that it extends well beyond traditional healthcare facilities. Consider pharmacies: they’re an essential part of delivering healthcare, and there are over 88,000 of them in the US. Sadly, there have been long-term trends towards rising incidents of robberies and violence at local pharmacies across the country. Much of this is ‘narco-violence,’ driven by thefts of pharmaceuticals. And during the pandemic, there have also been reports of increased violence and abuse towards pharmacists. OSHA has some useful advice on workplace violence prevention programs in late-night retail establishments (>> https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3153.pdf). But sometimes, lone pharmacists will need urgent support.
Whatever their circumstances, lone healthcare workers can rely on Safe Hub
When the going does get tough, Safe Hub offers healthcare lone workers a lifeline when they need it. We already have many healthcare clients, with a range of healthcare providers using our Safe Hub apps and devices. For these customers, the SOS Fob device and smartphone apps taken together are the most popular solution. This gives healthcare lone workers access to all our Safe Hub safety features. From Red Alert emergency help through to reactive Worker Down alerts, we cover every scenario in the sector. And with our commitment to providing round-the-clock coverage, lone healthcare workers can get the help they need even during the holidays.
We'd like to take this opportunity to wish our staff, clients, and followers a happy holiday season, and best wishes for 2022.
To find out more about how we protect lone healthcare workers from seasonal pressures in every working scenario, contact one of the team today.
Call +1- 855-393-7668
Visit: www.skyalertsos.com
Email info@skyalertsos.com
About Sky Alert
Safe Hub, from Sky Alert, is an advanced security platform that protects people working alone. With pinpoint accuracy and lightning-fast response, Safe Hub is not just another 911 app. It's all-around protection for lone workers. Using a discreet personal device such as the SOS Fob, our advanced App on a smartphone, or the SPOT X satellite device, Safe Hub connects users with a state-of-the-art Monitoring Response Center (MRC). At the MRC, highly trained operatives can provide immediate assistance directing the police or paramedics to your GPS location in the fastest time possible.