Pa. Hospitals are Addressing Workplace Violence

December 19, 2024

Pennsylvania’s hospitals are working to protect their teams from violence. 

This month, HAP organized a roundtable event hosted by Allegheny Health Network Grove City hospital, bringing together area hospitals, policymakers, law enforcement, and emergency management leaders.  

The initiative is the first in a series of HAP workshops to discuss workplace violence and opportunities for advocacy and partnerships. 

Background:  Hospital staff are five times more likely than average to experience workplace violence. Local collaboration with law enforcement and public safety is paramount to protect health care teams. The workshop offered the opportunity to address the psychological toll of violence on health care workers; factors that may increase the risk of violence; verbal abuse, physical injury, and property damage; challenges with reporting and prosecuting incidents; and available resources. 

Advocacy effort:  The Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act establishes federal penalties for knowingly assaulting or intimidating hospital employees. It also authorizes grant funding for initiatives to improve hospital employee safety. 

Quotable:  “We believe that many of the potential strategies to address health care workplace violence lie within our ability to share best practices and collaborate across the broader community,” Chris Chamberlain, MS, RN, CHEP, HAP’s vice president, emergency management said.