BizQuiz: Would you be prepared if violence erupted at your veterinary practice?
Violent incidents can happen anywhere, but there are things a practice team can do to be less vulnerable.
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Phil Seibert, CVT, clinic safety expert, SafetyVet consultant and author of The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest says veterinary practice owners have to get better about understanding the threat of violence at the workplace.
If you're wondering if a violent incident could be prevented or defended at your practice, take this quiz to find out if the team and the facility is prepared.
1. Your clinic is in a community where you know everyone. You've never had a problem with security. Is a security system even necessary?
2. Should you fire a longtime employee just because of a threat made during an argument between co-workers? She didn't mean what she said; it was just in the heat of the moment.
3. Do you need to factor security into everyday operating protocol?
4. Keeping locked doors or controlled entrance points can inconvenience staff and clients—is it really worth it?
5. Are physical barriers such as locked doors still useful even if someone threatening violence gets past them?
6. Should you let a client who is being confrontational vent?
7. If a client becomes irrational, should you allow the confrontation to continue in front of other clients or staff members?
If you answered "yes" to most of the questions you're making the effort to secure your practice against violence. If you answered "no" to most of the questions it may be time to reevaluate your practice's operating protocol. Click here to read dvm360 articles regarding clinic safety.
