Harvard Law School’s Petrie Fromm Center hosted a virtual panel on Tuesday on efforts to reduce violence against health care workers.
Panelists at the event, titled “Violence in Healthcare: A Growing Crisis,” included U.S. Congressman Madeleine C. Dean (D-Pa.), Registered Nurse Ellis Wilson, and Connie of the International Health and Safety Association. It included the president-elect. Packard. Petrie-From Center Visiting Fellow Stephen P. Wood moderated the event.
During the panel discussion, Wood shared statistics on the rise in violence against health care workers.
“We know that violence is four times more prevalent in healthcare than in any other industry outside of law enforcement,” said Wood. “We find that 20 to 30 percent of health care providers report having witnessed or been involved in some sort of violent event.”
Ms Wilson said she faced violence while working as a nurse in a community emergency room. I suffered severe nerve damage and lost control of my hands.
“I can’t work anymore because I can’t even put my gloves on. It’s very difficult,” Wilson said. “It’s no exaggeration to say that it changed my life.”
Citing the fact that assaulting a healthcare worker is not a felony in Massachusetts, despite the prevalence of violence against healthcare workers, Wilson says little has been done to mitigate harm. Stated.
“I know there’s a bill out there, but nothing has been done to get it passed smoothly,” Wilson said.
Dean said he aims to pass legislation to protect health care workers across the country from violence. In June, Dean and U.S. Congressman Larry D. Buchon (R-Ind.) proposed a Safe Health Care Worker Violence Act that would criminalize assaulting and intimidating hospital staff.
Additionally, if passed, the law will provide $25 million for education and prevention measures, Dean said.
“By doing this — by passing this bill and making it a federal crime — we’re really deterring people in these environments from saying, ‘Wait a minute, violence is never acceptable in this environment.’ I hope we can,” Dean said.
Wilson also said he believes there is a lack of support for health care workers who have been targeted by violence.
“If you are the target of verbal or physical assault, anywhere else in the profession, no one will tell you.
Wilson said hospitals should instead help assaulted health care workers by asking questions such as “What can I do to help you?” And then, “What can I do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?”
Packard said the IAHSS aims to minimize violence in health care, including by providing resources for policy guidelines and strengthening security measures in hospitals.
“We help and heal at medical facilities,” said Packard. “If you were only worried about being assaulted, that would never happen.”
