Takeaways from the Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare Webinar

In our recent webinar, Preventing Workplace Violence, a panel of healthcare leaders and safety experts came together to confront this growing crisis and offer real-world solutions.

With 75% of all workplace violence incidents occurring in healthcare settings, and 80% of those going unreported, this conversation couldn’t be more urgent.

In case you missed it—or want a refresher—here are the most important insights from the session.

‍Violence in Healthcare: A Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore

Lisa Rowan, former Chief Nursing Executive at the University of Maryland Medical System, opened the session with a sobering statistic:

“Eight out of ten nurses have experienced violence on the job. And 60% say it’s caused them to consider leaving.”

These are more than numbers—they’re a wake-up call. The physical and emotional toll on frontline healthcare workers is leading to burnout, turnover, and lower-quality patient care. Our panel agreed: Creating a culture of safety must be a top priority.

Culture Change Starts With Leadership

Lisa Abbott, CHRO at Boston Children’s Hospital, emphasized that creating a culture where staff feel safe to report violence is the foundation of any solution.

“If people don’t feel heard, they won’t speak up. It’s on us as leaders to prove we’ll listen—and act.”

During the webinar, panelists shared how open reporting systems, regular check-ins, and leadership visibility in high-risk units can foster trust and transparency.

Deescalation, Empathy, and Preparedness

Violence can stem from many sources—confusion, trauma, or deliberate aggression. The webinar highlighted the need for deescalation training, especially in departments handling behavioral health or post-operative care.

Lisa Rowan reminded attendees:

“We have to differentiate between patients who are confused and those making a conscious choice to be violent. That distinction changes how we respond.”

Proactive training in trauma-informed care and conflict resolution was a recurring theme among our panelists.

Technology That Responds in Real Time

Sean Sinha, CEO of Canopy, introduced webinar participants to the Canopy wearable alert system, a discreet panic button designed to help healthcare workers call for help before a situation escalates.

“If that nurse had a wearable badge she could’ve pressed, it would’ve changed everything—help would’ve arrived immediately.” – Lisa Rowan

Mapped to hospital floor plans and integrated into real-time response protocols, tools like Canopy are helping teams improve outcomes, increase retention, and restore peace of mind.

A Clear Path Forward

The panel closed with a shared call to action: safety doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built—through leadership, empathy, training, and technology.

Here’s what your facility can do today:

• Create easy, anonymous ways for staff to report incidents
  
• Train frontline teams on deescalation and trauma-informed care
  
• Use real-time technology to provide immediate support
• Build a culture where staff know their safety is a leadership priority

Ready to see Canopy in action? Book a personalized demo

Let’s work together to protect those who care for everyone else.