Addressing dual patient and staff safety through a team-based standardized patient simulation for agitation management in the emergency department.

Workplace violence in health care is a particular area of concern in the emergency department (ED). Patients who are agitated present a unique management challenge for ED providers because they are at increased risk for causing harm, both to themselves and to health care workers. This mixed-methods study concludes that simulation may be a helpful tool for improving teamwork when caring for patients with behavioral issues in the ED.