The healthcare industry is facing a critical challenge with workplace violence, a crisis that not only endangers the lives of healthcare workers but also imposes a hefty financial burden estimated at $12.7 billion annually in the U.S. alone. In response, OPTICS for Healthcare has launched the first AI-driven workplace violence assessment and risk mitigation platform tailored for healthcare environments. This innovative solution comes at a time when healthcare workers are experiencing workplace violence at a rate five times higher than those in private industry, with over 2,000 nurses and nursing assistants facing physical violence daily.
The OPTICS platform is a comprehensive software solution that integrates artificial intelligence with human oversight across five key components. These include a current state workplace assessment, a GAP analysis report, a collaborative workflow management system, a critical content library with real-time regulatory updates, and a management dashboard for analytics and updates. The platform's development is a direct response to the escalating violence in healthcare settings, which not only affects staff wellbeing but also leads to significant financial losses through medical treatments, staff turnover, and legal settlements averaging between $800,000 to $1.2 million per case.
David Brake, Co-founder and CEO of OPTICS for Healthcare, emphasized the platform's role in creating safer work environments while ensuring regulatory compliance. With product pilots set to begin this fall, the focus will be on client implementation, user experience, and the effectiveness of the platform's integrated components. Kim Urbanek, OPTICS Co-founder and Chief of Innovation & Practice, highlighted the platform's potential to improve staff safety, reduce liability, enhance compliance, and decrease turnover, ultimately aiming to elevate the quality of patient care.
The nationwide release of the OPTICS platform is scheduled for early 2026, targeting the entire healthcare ecosystem, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and physician practice groups. For more information, visit https://opticshc.com. This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the pervasive issue of workplace violence in healthcare, offering a beacon of hope for safer work environments and improved patient care.
