Leadership Message: United in respect

Dear Colleagues,

Every day, healthcare professionals come to work with a shared purpose: to care for others during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Unfortunately, they also experience workplace violence at rates higher than any other industry, impacting safety, well-being and morale. 

UC Davis Health takes employee personal safety very seriously. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe and supportive environment that begins with respect. 

As we recognize Hospitals Against Violence Day on June 5, we are proud to launch our “United in Respect” campaign. United in Respect is a reminder that every interaction matters, and that we must work together to create a culture of respect, kindness and compassion. 

When patients and their loved ones come to us, they are often facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. They may be experiencing physical pain, emotional distress, uncertainty or processing life-changing news. We recognize that these circumstances can evoke strong emotions and understand that healthcare settings can be stressful for everyone involved.

Too often, healthcare workers become the unintended targets of frustration and anger, regardless of whether they are directly involved in a patient's care. No employee should ever be subjected to threats, intimidation, verbal abuse or physical violence. While we cannot always control how individuals respond during times of crisis, we can set clear expectations for respectful behavior and provide our workforce with the tools, training and support needed to remain safe. Protecting our people while delivering compassionate care remains one of our highest priorities.

Over the coming months, you’ll see updated signage in patient-facing spaces and communications. We’ll also spread the word about support resources available to employees, courtesy of the UC Davis Workplace Violence Prevention Department. For example:

• Training and prevention
• Security response
• Incident reporting
• Support services

You’re not alone

I encourage you to watch this video, in which Executive Director Marcus Christian shares his own experience with workplace violence. You’ll learn how he found support among his colleagues and, as a leader, how he creates space for processing such incidents — together.

Maintaining a safe and healing environment must be a shared responsibility.  While our care teams provide exceptional care, we ask patients, families and visitors to unite with us in creating a culture rooted in respect, kindness and compassion.

Sincerely,

Annie Reyes-Salgado, M.B.A.
Vice President, Support Services