Can AI Reduce Patient Violence Against Clinicians?

Modern Healthcare | By Gabriel Perna

Artificial intelligence is touted as a way to ease clinicians' workload. A hospital in Dallas is using it to keep them safe. 
 
Parkland Memorial Hospital, the city's large safety-net hospital, is using AI to protect its doctors and nurses from violent patients. It joins a growing number of health systems deploying AI to tackle the pressing issue. 
 
“We feel that workplace violence, particularly in healthcare, was an epidemic before the pandemic. But then with the pandemic, it just got even more pronounced,” said Steve Miff, CEO of Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, the health system's research institute. “When you’re at the hospital, it’s one of most vulnerable times in your life. So, you can understand why it’s a setting that’s probably more primed for irrational behavior.” 
 
A team from the research institute developed an predictive AI tool within its electronic health record to generate a risk assessment score that informs clinicians which patients are more likely to be violent. 
 
The development of the AI tool comes as violence against doctors and nurses is on the rise. More than 80% of nurses said they experienced some form of workplace violence in 2022 and 2023, according to a February survey by National Nurses United. In a January survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians, 71% of emergency physicians said violence in the emergency department was worse in 2023 than in 2022.
 
The American Hospital Association has endorsed a bill that would make it a federal crime to attack healthcare workers in the process of doing their jobs. 
 
Parkland has about 400 incidents per year that can include verbal threats, hair pulling, biting or hitting. Often, they are underreported by clinicians, Miff said. 
 
“Just hearing the frontline staff stories is just heartbreaking because they're passionate about helping people and then they themselves become a victim,” Miff said…

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ACHH Graduate Virtual Journal Club

When: Thursday, May 9, 2024 | 8:30pm - 10:00pm Eastern 

The ACHH faculty have worked with the APTA Home Health Board to initiate a journal club exclusively for the PT and PTA graduates of the ACHH certification program.

The FREE ACHH journal club will take place three times a year on the second Thursday of January, May, and September. The first 30 minutes will be a happy hour of networking and discussion and then one member will lead a guided journal club.  Participation in the club will carry points towards recertification, with one point for each club attended, to a maximum of 5, and 3 points for the individual leading the discussion.  The club will be held virtually, and details and the link will be sent by the section to all graduates of the program.  It is planned that the topics will rotate through different major areas such as neurological, cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and issues specific to PTAs. 

The next event will be on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Any volunteers to lead journal discussions in the subsequent meetings will be appreciated. Remember - 3 points will be awarded towards your ACHH Certification Renewal if you volunteer to lead these discussions. If interested, please email us at [email protected].

ACHH program graduates, click here to register for free! 

Latest 'Quarterly Report' Available Electronically Now 

The latest print issue -- Spring 2024 - Vol. 59 No. 2 -- of the APTA Home Health Quarterly Report is on its way to Academy members, however members can read it now on the Academy's Quarterly Report Library page (you must be signed in as a member to view this page). Not a member? Join us!

‘This Battle Is Far From Over’: Federal Court Dismisses NAHC’s Lawsuit Against CMS

Home Health Care News | By Joyce Famakinwa 
 
Last summer, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) made waves when it filed a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over Medicare home health payment calculations.
 
Last week, a federal court in Washington D.C., dismissed NAHC’s lawsuit against CMS and HHS.
 
The lawsuit claimed that CMS and HHS utilized an “invalid” methodology to decide payment, and that recent home health payment cuts were unlawful. 
 
“The primary claim in our lawsuit is that the methodology violated the plain language of the Medicare law,” NAHC wrote in its latest report.
 
CMS implemented a 3.925% rate reduction for 2023, and a 2.89% one for 2024. 
 
On April 26, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that NAHC skipped an agency review process prior to suing. 
 
“The Court ruling addresses a combination of the NAHC arguments and the defenses presented by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of CMS,” NAHC wrote. “DOJ argued that the Court did not have the power to hear any challenges to the PDGM budget neutrality adjustment methodology, that NAHC failed to exhaust all administrative appeal steps, and that the challenged methodology was in compliance with the law.” 
 
Still, NAHC noted that the Court ruled in its favor on something it considers a crucial element of the case. 
 
“[The court rejected] DOJ’s argument that all judicial review was precluded on anything related to the PDGM system,” NAHC wrote. “The Court specifically held that NAHC could challenge the budget neutrality adjustment methodology once administrative remedies are exhausted. Of further note, the Court did not rule on or evaluate the merits of the NAHC claim that the methodology violated Medicare law.” 
 
Last year, the Biden administration asked a federal judge to throw out NAHC’s lawsuit against CMS and HHS. 
 
Looking ahead, NAHC is considering its next move. One of the things the organization is thinking about is appealing the court’s ruling on exhaustion of administrative appeals. 
Pursuing a request for expedited judicial review with CMS is also on the table. If a judicial review is expedited, NAHC plans to refine its lawsuit.
 
“The Court did not rule on the merits of NAHC’s claims that it had violated Medicare laws,” NAHC wrote. “As such, a lawsuit can be pursued once the administrative steps are completed.” 
 
Ultimately, NAHC President William A. Dombi believes that the lawsuit dismissal is a stumbling block, but one that the organization will prevail over. 
 
“We are disappointed with the court’s ruling. However, it is a minor setback that we can readily overcome,” Dombi said in the report. “Often justice delayed is justice denied. Here, we will have our day in court. This battle is far from over.”
 
In addition to his role as president, Dombi also served as legal counsel to NAHC.