UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital – Healthcare Accountability Restorative Program
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital was seeking innovative solutions to address the continuing challenge of workplace violence, and disruptive behavior in health care settings. The team also sought to decrease the number of repeat offenses and recidivism in those who commit these acts. As a result, UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital launched the Healthcare Accountability Restorative Program (HARP).
The goals and objectives of the HARP program include the following:
- Enhance communication/ cooperation with community partners (law enforcement, city attorney, EMS, police department, municipal court system, restorative justice team) regarding the prevalence and severity of workplace violence incidences.
- Increase accountability for disruptive behaviors in healthcare settings.
- Provide a pathway for restoration of the offender and reintegration into healthcare interactions in a positive manner.
The HARP is essentially a restorative justice program, established within the city limits of Fort Collins. For those who have committed workplace violence misdemeanors (criminal trespass, criminal mischief, harassment), the prosecutor screens these cases and allows the offender the option of enrolling in HARP.
If the HARP route is chosen, the offender must understand the impact of their actions on the community, self, and organization/ victim and seek to repair justice in those 3 distinct realms by taking specific action steps. Actions steps can include the following:
- Community realm
- Community service
- Self realm
- Mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, anger management classes, obtaining job interview/ employment, establishing relationship with a primary care provider, etc.
- Organization/victim realm
- Apology letters, attending support group meetings and / or certain community events, GED project, etc.
Additionally, during the HARP participation, many resources are made available to the offender to include housing authority services, connecting to primary care providers, mental health and substance use disorder treatment resources, and assistance in completing insurance or Medicaid applications. If HARP is completed successfully, the offender’s record may be expunged.
Early achievements include successful organization and implementation of the program and recently, the first participant has been enrolled in HARP.
To learn more about the HARP program, please contact Amanda Miller, DNP, RN, CEN ([email protected]) at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital.
