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 Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act would require healthcare employers to create a workplace violence prevention plan to help curtail violence against employees. Healthcare workers face rates of violence on the job up to 12 times higher than other occupations, according to the GAO. If passed, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration would oversee the implementation of such prevention plans.
A survey found that 45 percent of HR professionals view preparing for and responding to an active shooter or workplace violence incident – including threats of violence, such as stalking or domestic abuse – as very or extremely challenging.
People who were bullied at work were 59 percent more likely to develop heart disease or related diseases. Employees exposed to workplace violence were 25 percent more likely to develop heart disease or related diseases.
A new bill, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, would require hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, mental health providers, and jails to develop a workplace safety plan to protect their workers from violence they experience at the hands of patients — a surprisingly common phenomenon. The bill would also require employers to record and investigate all complaints of violence, and prohibits retaliation against employees who call 911.
A patient at TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tenn., was charged with aggravated assault after police say he cut a security officer at the hospital.
