The Bronx Lebanon Department of Family Medicine prides itself on the safety of its patients and staff. Helping us make strides with this endeavor we have recently implemented the Crisis Prevention Institute's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® program. Two of our Behavioral Science Instructors, Faith Herring, LMSW and Marisa Lelia, LMSW, MA, have been trained as certified instructors in order to be able to train all department staff in this valuable method of crisis intervention. The program’s core focus centers on the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security SM of everyone involved in a crisis situation, patient and staff alike. The program’s proven strategies give health care providers the skills to safely and effectively respond to anxious, hostile, or violent behavior without impeding on the responsibilities of patient care. The most important aspect of these strategies is learning how to recognize and defuse possibly challenging patients or situations before they escalate.

In addition, the program augments staff development, improving confidence and communication among the staff, while avoiding potential stress and anxiety often associated with crisis situations. The training begins with an initial full-day of training and progresses overtime by providing continually new and improved tips and techniques for crisis intervention, including refresher training sessions. Through this program we are able to create and maintain a safe, caring, and respectful environment for both our staff and the patients we serve. Additional information on CPI can be found at www.crisisprevention.com.