Healthcare facilities across Germany are increasingly implementing enhanced security measures to safeguard their staff from rising incidents of verbal and physical aggression.
Gerald Gaß, CEO of the German Hospital Federation (DKG), told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that hospitals have been compelled to develop various protective strategies in recent years. These strategies range from employing security personnel to offering de-escalation and self-defense courses, as well as undertaking structural modifications within facilities.
One concept gaining traction involves limiting direct contact between patients and relatives, particularly within emergency room waiting areas, to trained security staff for non-medical inquiries. This aims to facilitate swift identification of potentially aggressive individuals. Furthermore, staffing protocols are being adjusted to ensure that each shift includes nurses possessing the physical strength and resilience necessary to handle challenging situations. Gaß emphasized that these adaptations represent an unacceptable necessity.
Dr. Klaus Reinhardt, President of the German Medical Association, stated that medical chambers are supporting physicians through continuing education events and targeted de-escalation training, allowing them to respond appropriately to aggressive behavior. Several chambers have also established dedicated reporting points where medical professionals can formally document incidents of abuse.
“Healthcare employees are typically not trained in martial arts or de-escalation techniques. They have a right to perform their work free from physical harm” Gaß stated. He also highlighted the need for adequate funding of security measures for hospitals, noting that clinics currently bear the financial burden of security services.
Both the DKG and the Medical Association are advocating for improved protections, including the establishment of a centralized reporting system and stricter penalties for perpetrators. Reinhardt underscored the requirement for a nationwide, streamlined system to document incidents and accurately gauge the extent of the problem. Gaß added that the government must send a clear message that violence is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.