How can healthcare institutions move beyond simply responding to workplace violence and create systems that prevent conflict before it escalates? In this episode of Scalpel and Sword Podcast, Dr. Lee Sharma explores this question with Penn Medicine leaders, who explain why violence is underreported and why clinician safety must be treated alongside patient safety. They discuss psychological safety, leadership accountability, and creating systems where staff feel supported enough to speak openly. The guests share their multidisciplinary prevention program, including crisis response, simulation-based training, anticipatory guidance, communication tools, and trauma-informed care. They explain how listening to staff, understanding patient triggers, and measuring outcomes contributed to a 58% reduction in workplace violence events within pilot units. Listeners will learn practical strategies for preventing workplace violence through communication, empathy, teamwork, anticipatory guidance, and trauma-informed patient care. Three Actionable Takeaways: Create a Culture of Reporting: Encourage reporting by creating psychologically safe systems where staff know concerns will be heard and addressed. Discuss incidents promptly, debrief with teams, involve leadership, and track outcomes consistently. Policies become meaningful only when organizations demonstrate visible follow-through, accountability, and measurable improvements in everyday clinical environments.Practice Anticipatory Guidance: Use anticipatory guidance to prepare patients and families for emotional and operational stress. Explain what to expect, invite them to express concerns, identify coping resources, and communicate proactively. Combining empathy, trauma-informed care, and clear expectations can reduce uncertainty, strengthen trust, and help prevent conflict from escalating.Strengthen Multidisciplinary Teamwork: Build workplace violence prevention through multidisciplinary teamwork and practical training. Include nurses, physicians, security, patient safety professionals, and leaders in simulations, communication, and event reviews. Use technology to support, and not replace human connection, curiosity, and contextual understanding of patient behaviors, triggers, needs, and previous experiences during care.About the Show: Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose. About the Guests: Dr. Emmanuel King is a Penn Medicine physician leader specializing in quality improvement, patient safety, and interdisciplinary healthcare leadership.Natalie Plastino is a patient safety manager focused on risk identification, event analysis, safety culture, and workplace violence prevention.Christina Vo is a nurse practitioner and interdisciplinary patient safety officer leading workplace violence prevention, quality improvement, and education initiatives.Karen Brooks DNP, RN. is a nurse manager overseeing advanced medicine teams, with experience in workforce development, nurse wellbeing, and operational leadership.Scott Crespy, PhD, is a master improvement advisor with extensive experience in healthcare quality, safety, and operational excellence.About the Host: Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools. Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com 🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
