Research Finds Violence in Emergency Departments Is Increasing, Harming Patients
Violence in America's emergency departments is increasing, causing harm to physicians, staff and patients, according to new research. Nearly half (47 percent) of emergency physicians report having been physically assaulted while at work, with 60 percent saying those assaults occurred in the past year. Nearly 8 in 10 also say that patient care is being affected, with 51 percent of those saying that patients also have been physically harmed.
The results of a poll of more than 3,500 emergency physicians across the nation were released, alongside new research about violence in Michigan emergency departments, presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), ACEP18/Scientific Assembly.