What to Say: Responding to Patient-Initiated Harassment

The session titled "What to Say: Responding to Patient-Initiated Harassment" discusses approaches for addressing harassment within healthcare settings, particularly highlighting strategies for both recipients and bystanders. Led by Kenya Ferguson and Marta Van Beckham, the workshop aims to equip healthcare professionals with tools to respond to derogatory comments and biases encountered from patients. The facilitators emphasize the significance of identity groups and the various forms of harassment, including microaggressions, and the psychological impacts they can have on healthcare workers. Participants engage in discussions about real-life scenarios and share experiences that demonstrate how frequent and concerning such harassment can be. They are reminded of the importance of documenting incidents and creating an environment where harassment is not tolerated. The workshop provides a toolkit of responses, encouraging empathy and professionalism while setting boundaries with patients. The overarching message is to anticipate harassment, foster a culture of support, and ensure that all staff members feel safe and empowered to speak up, thereby enhancing the quality of care delivered to patients.