A report from the American Hospital Association (AHA) finds that hospitals spend more than $18 billion per year due to workplace and community violence. 

This report, prepared by Harborview Injury and Prevention Research Center (an affiliate of the University of Washington School of Medicine) assesses the financial costs of violence and analyzes the implications. Expenses considered in this report include healthcare for victims of violence, security staffing for facilities, violence prevention training/programs and more. 

Notable costs of violence in the report include: 

• The total annual cost of violence to hospitals is approximately $18.27 billion. 
• Pre-event expenses related to violence in communities and facilities (predominantly prevention measures) are approximately $3.62 billion. 
• Post-event expenses (such as healthcare, case management, work loss expenses, staffing and infrastructure repair) are approximately $14.65 billion. 

“It is an unacceptable reality that those who dedicate their lives to healing should face the threat of violence,” comments Rick Pollack, AHA President and CEO. “We know the enormous human and emotional toll violence takes on our communities and caregivers. This report goes beyond that to break down the significant related financial costs incurred upon hospitals and health systems. With the increase in violent events within clinical settings across the country, the resources needed to protect hospital workers and care for victims has grown exponentially. Every member of the health care team bears an enormous risk and burden of this violence. This report is yet another reminder we must do more to protect them.”