Becker's Hospital Review

40 CEO / STRATEGY How Renown Health builds workplace violence prevention into culture By Gabrielle Masson A nthony Slonim, MD, president and CEO of Renown Health, is passion- ate about protecting his workforce. Six months before he joined Renown in 2014, there was an on-campus shooting. e Reno, Nev.-based healthcare system leader discussed with Becker's why focusing on work- place violence is more important than ever and how Renown is working to prevent it. Why should leaders prioritize work- place violence prevention now? "You have to take a strong approach to make sure your community is safe. We have a vari- ety of tactical approaches to make sure when people come to our buildings, which are open and accessible, it is safe," Dr. Slonim said. Workplace violence predates the pandemic — it's not a new issue. However, capturing data about the problem can be difficult, Dr. Slonim said. ere's a whole continuum of what represents hospital workplace violence, such as cursing, physical violence and sexual harassment. at spectrum needs to be accommodated, and no part of it should be blown off, Dr. Slonim said. "We have a responsibility to keep our employ- ees safe," Dr. Slonim said. "It's an investment. "is is a workforce issue, not a violence is- sue," he continued, adding that prevention of workplace violence makes staff feel safe and makes them want to come to work. Now, when everyone is emotionally fatigued from the pandemic, it's especially important for employees to know their organization supports them, Dr. Slonim said. "People in healthcare come to work to help, they don't come to work to get beat up," he said. How can organizations combat vio- lence in healthcare? Healthcare organizations should fully utilize a proactive approach to combat workplace violence, according to Dr. Slonim. Leaders must consider workplace violence events as "never events" — seriously adverse events that are largely preventable. "We had an event we never want to have again," Dr. Slonim said. "Healthcare workers must be protected throughout everything." Renown has made it clear it has a zero-tol- erance policy on any form of workplace vio- lence, Dr. Slonim said. "We have our employees back and investigate each and every report," he said. e zero-tolerance culture starts at the foun- dation, with the organization's code of con- duct stating that the environment should be free of disruptive behavior. At the fundamen- tal level, Renown dictates a culture without harassment, he said. Healthcare is a place of caring and healing, not violence, Dr. Slonim said. Renown com- municates this message oen and broadly, adjusting methods as technology changes. e organization has signs up and a YouTube series reiterating that message. Dr. Slonim himself, with the American Hospi- tal Association, has advocated for zero toler- ance of violence in the workplace for the last few years. Renown communicates that policy from its boardroom to the front lines and fol- lows through on its policy, Dr. Slonim said. To build safe environments, problems must be openly discussed, he said. Transparency and open conversations about workplace vi- olence — what it is, that it happens, when it happens — is key, he said. "Violence is only one piece of the workplace violence conversation," Dr. Slonim said. "Your workforce makes up the other part, and they need to know you've got their back." n OU Health names inaugural CEO By Alia Paavola R ichard Lofgren, MD, left his position as president and CEO of UC Health in Cincinnati to helm OU Health, an academic health system in Oklaho- ma City. Dr. Lofgren will become the first president and CEO of OU Health, which was cre- ated last year after OU Medicine hospitals and its affiliated physicians merged. "Dr. Lofgren's experience is perfectly suited to advance our newly integrat- ed health system as we transform health for all Oklahomans," said G. Rainey Williams Jr., chair of the OU Health board of directors. "He brings incredible experience and vision to OU Health as we transform into a single entity with leading clinical programs for the citizens of our state." Dr. Lofgren was president and CEO at UC Health since 2013. Prior to that expe- rience, he held various leadership roles at University of Kentucky in Lexington; Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee; University of Pittsburgh; and the Uni- versity HealthSystem Consortium, which has since been acquired by Vizient. In his new role, Dr. Lofgren is responsible for leading the overall health system, crafting a strategic vision and ensuring optimal financial performance. "I'd like to thank the OU Health Board of Directors for their confidence in my ability to lead OU Health in this inaugural role," said Dr. Lofgren. "OU Health and the University of Oklahoma are uniquely positioned to transform health- care across the state and region, and I'm looking forward to working with our physicians, providers, employees, the community, our state and our partners to realize the vision for a healthier Oklahoma." n "Violence is only one piece of the workplace violence conversation. Your workforce makes up the other part and they need to know you've got their back." Dr. Anthony Slonim, Renown Health

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