Brian Uridge is a recognized leader in healthcare security and public safety, with extensive experience integrating law enforcement and risk management strategies into medical environments. As Director of Michigan Medicine Security at the University of Michigan, he oversees a large security workforce responsible for protecting thousands of employees and millions of patients annually. With nearly three decades of experience spanning law enforcement, fire service, and healthcare systems, Brian Uridge has led initiatives that reduce incidents, enhance safety protocols, and improve staff preparedness. His work, including the development of specialized training programs and innovative security measures, directly informs ongoing efforts to address workplace violence in healthcare settings, a critical issue affecting staff safety, patient care, and organizational stability across the industry.
Understanding Workplace Violence in Healthcare
Per the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workplace violence constitutes “any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting.” Data shows that workplace violence is a serious threat to healthcare workers, who face five times the risk of violence compared to the average American worker, per the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. To better understand the different forms of violence that healthcare industry workers face, NIOSH has broken down workplace violence into several categories.
According to NIOSH, workplace violence may involve criminal intent (Type I), client-on-worker (Type II), worker-on-worker (Type III), or personal relationship violence (Type IV) (NIOSH, 2013). Incidents of violence may consist of one or multiple types of violence.
NIOSH describes criminal intent as violence committed by a perpetrator with no direct link to the healthcare facility or its staff. Instead, the violence functions as a means to an end, such as an act of robbery or trespassing. Robbery is particularly common in the healthcare industry, both in physical and digital settings. Theft occurs about seven times per 100 hospital beds, while 2024 set records for data breaches and cyber attacks in the healthcare industry, to say nothing of pharmaceutical robberies.
Client-on-worker is the most common form of violence in healthcare settings. NIOSH describes this type of violence as patients, family members, and facility visitors assaulting, verbally abusing, or otherwise perpetrating violence against a member of the facility’s staff. Many different types of client-on-worker violence exist, ranging from angry family members to attacks from disoriented patients living with dementia. Regardless of the cause, client-on-worker violence is a serious threat; according to the American College of Emergency Physicians, over 90 percent of medical workers experienced physical assault or a threat of violence in 2024.
Although less common, worker-on-worker remains a serious industry issue. These incidents, also known as lateral or horizontal violence, generally involve verbal or emotional abuse between coworkers. Worker-on-worker violence is usually directed down the hierarchical chain, such as supervisor to employee or doctor to nurse.
Lastly, personal relationship violence sometimes occurs in healthcare settings. In these situations, a person who has a personal relationship with a healthcare professional visits their workplace and commits an act of violence.
These four types of violence occur throughout the industry, at every type of healthcare facility, including nursing homes, hospitals, and specialized care facilities. Similarly, healthcare workers at every level carry some risk of violence, though employees who have direct contact with patients experience a much greater risk of violence.
More than 80 percent of nurses, for example, experience one or more forms of workplace violence in any given year, according to National Nurses United; violence is one of the biggest contributors to the nation’s nursing workforce shortage. Several risk factors can increase an employee’s likelihood of experiencing violence, such as direct interactions with individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol and working with employees who have a history of violent or volatile behavior.
The healthcare industry must also recognize and develop plans to address related threats, such as workplace bullying and incivility. Both issues are closely related to verbal abuse and may involve superiors humiliating and undermining their subordinates. In addition to causing lasting physical and psychological harm, these actions can lead to loss of motivation and employee burnout. As a result, healthcare organizations can experience high employee turnover, which can impair their ability to maintain operations and provide patients with quality care.
About Brian Uridge
Brian Uridge serves as deputy director of public safety and security and director of security for Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, where he oversees a large team and manages security operations. With nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, healthcare security, and fire service, he has led major safety initiatives, including a K-9 program and staff training efforts. He previously held leadership roles at Spectrum Health and the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and is a frequent speaker on healthcare security topics.
