Martial Arts for the Health Care Professional:       

Dr. Gerard has developed a 'Unique" martial arts system designed explicitly for health care professionals, including doctors, nurses, students, allied health care workers, etc.

Dr. Gerard has studied martial arts techniques for the past 30 years, which include a wide variety of styles including: Goju-Ryu, Sugar-Ryu JiuJitsu and "Circle of One" Ninjitsu.

Dr. Gerard and Professor Robert Crosson (10th degree Master, Sugar Ryu JiuJitsu) have joined forces and developed a martial arts system specifically targeted and designed with the Health Care Professional in mind.

The system utilizes what a health care worker would normally carry in their jackets, shirts, medical bags, wallet, beeper, cell phone, etc. This is a 2 level system: 1. Defensive techniques only for the health care setting, and 2. Defensive techniques for "out of the health care setting" (i.e. leaving work at midnight going to get your car in a lonely garage").

In addition, Psychology, "Streetology" and conflict avoidance techniques are stressed. Physical fitness techniques and methods of stress release are also emphasized. The concept of "Streetology" is how to be aware of your surroundings at all times, always being alert to potential dangers, and involves all the concepts of how to never become a victim, learning how to be safe. All these concepts are intensely taught within this course. 

What are the risk factors for violent behavior in hospitals? Risk factors involving patients and the public include the following:

* Patients, family, or visitors carrying weapons;

* Persons with a history of violent behavior;

* Hospitalizing criminals;

* Early release of acute and chronically mentally ill patients;

* Right of patients to refuse psychiatric medication or hospitalization.

Factors concerned with staffing and the hospital environment include:

* Hospitals located in high crime areas;

* Staffing patterns, including a shortage of trained staff;

* Staff working alone without systems for calling emergency assistance;

* Long waits in emergency rooms.

One in six violent crimes occurs in the workplace, according to Department of Justice study. (Police and Security News - Sept. 1994). Awareness, according to experts, makes up 90% of self-defense, the remaining 10% being physical techniques. With awareness, you can identify and avoid potentially dangerous situations.

Safety Awareness & Self Defense is the responsibility of each individual. Knowing your surroundings and being aware of potential dangers is your first step towards self-defense. Avoiding and distancing yourself from circumstances that could be trouble are your responsibility.

All staff whose need is determined by risk assessment should recieve on going competency training to recognize anger, potential aggression,  and risk factors of disturbed /violent behavior and to monitor their own verbal and non-verbal behavior. Training should include methods of anticipating, de-escalating or coping with distrubed/violent behavior. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidelines for the NHS on the management of disturbed/violent behavior in psychiatric inpatient settings and emergency departments. The guideline provides a comprehensive framework for how to assess risk and prevent violence; de-escalate and calm down a potentially violent situation; and intervene safely when violence occurs.

The course will also increase worker and employer awareness of the risk factors for violence in health care settings and to provide strategies for reducing exposure to these factors. Although anyone working in a hospital may become a victim of violence, nurses and aides who have the most direct contact with patients are at higher risk. Other hospital personnel at increased risk of violence include emergency response personnel, hospital safety officers, and all health care providers.  The course will also teach self defense in the office setting, self defense in your car and home, and self defense in other public areas.

To prevent violence in health care settings, employers should develop a safety and health program that includes management commitment, employee participation, hazard identification, safety and health training, and hazard prevention, control, and reporting. Employers should evaluate this program periodically. Although risk factors for violence are specific for each health care setting, and its work scenarios, employers can follow general prevention strategies. (Occupational Hazards in Hospital DHHS, the National Institute For Occupational Safety And Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2002–-101, April 2002).

If you are interested in learning this unique set of techniques, or would like to have this seminar and series of lectures taught at your institution (anywhere in or out of the United States), and for references on this article, please contact Dr. Gerard at the following email address:docnucs@yahoo.com

Photos of Dr. Perry Gerard and Professor Robert Crosson