Healthcare professionals from across the Permian Basin gathered at the Bush Convention Center on Wednesday, March 26, for a regional conference addressing workplace violence in healthcare. The event, hosted by Midland Health, was attended by Midland Times.
The conference, titled Breaking the Silence of Workplace Violence in Healthcare, ran from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and featured open discussions, panel sessions, and moderated breakout groups focused on safety and prevention strategies for frontline healthcare workers.
Stephen McNeil moderated the afternoon sessions, which included chief nursing officers from Midland Health, Odessa Regional Medical Center, and Medical Center Hospital. The panels addressed risk reduction and system-wide responses to incidents of workplace aggression.
“We wanted to create open dialogue with nurses and leadership to talk through what’s really happening,” McNeil said during his interview with Midland Times. “Reporting is the most important first step. If workplace violence occurs, and it isn’t reported, nothing changes. But when we report, we can investigate and build solutions.”
McNeil began his career with Midland Police Department in 1996 and has worked at Midland Health for nearly three years. He currently serves as chair of the hospital’s Workplace Violence Prevention Committee.
“We look at every workplace violence report that comes through our hospital,” McNeil said. “If there’s a criminal component, we work with the district attorney’s office.”
He emphasized the need for staff protocols when responding to potentially volatile situations, such as patients under the influence or experiencing altered mental states. McNeil recommended training, notification systems, and policies requiring more than one staff member in higher-risk rooms as possible safeguards.
The March 26 event brought together healthcare workers, administrators, and law enforcement representatives in a joint effort to build safer environments for both staff and patients. Dr. Kit Bredimus, Chief Nursing Officer of Midland Health, also participated and spoke during the event.
Midland Health has implemented several initiatives to reduce violence in healthcare, including establishing a hospital police department, conducting situational awareness training, and launching public education campaigns. The hospital also received state grant funding to support nursing safety improvements across its facilities.