Healthcare Workplace Violence: Communication & Legislative Strategy

Status Quo

Status Quo

Status Quo

Knowledge Gaps Violence is vastly underreported Surveys suggest that roughly 50% unreported One 2000 study said 70% of violence against nurses goes unreported Actionable data difficult to find

SC: No Enhanced Penalties

why do healthcare workers not report? Duty to “Do No Harm” puts patient before caretaker Perception that it’s just “part of the job” Lack of means of emergency communication Lack of training and policies for staff Employees believe incidents are unintentional and unwilling to stigmatize perpetrators Lack of faith in the reporting system Fear of retaliation

Target Audience Message Employees Your safety is our top priority Violence is not part of your job We want you to report incidents Public Do not harm our employees Healthcare workers are here to help you Hospitals are safe zones Community Leaders Policy Makers Healthcare workers at greater risk SC one of 3 states with no enhanced penalties for healthcare workers Cost of violence to hospitals

types of content Posters Op-Eds Flyers Reporting Policy Social Media Graphics Webpage Talking Points Legislation Outdoor Signage

internal facing Posters Op-Eds Flyers Reporting Policy Social Media Graphics Webpage Talking Points Legislation Outdoor Signage

public facing Posters Op-Eds Flyers Reporting Policy Social Media Graphics Webpage Talking Points Legislation Outdoor Signage

employee facing campaign

posters & flyers Emphasize that we want to take pictures of SC nurses, doctors, etc

posters & flyers Emphasize that we want to take pictures of SC nurses, doctors, etc

talking points for hospital administrators & employees Workplace violence is a major safety issue in hospitals and health systems across the country. We Care About Your Safety   It’s Not Part of the Job. You Report. We Support. We’re Here to Help. We’re committed to reducing the threat of workplace violence by equipping facilities with information to help communicate the importance of protecting our employees.

public facing campaign

posters & flyers Emphasize that we want to take pictures of SC nurses, doctors, etc

talking points for community leaders & policy makers From 2002 to 2013 workplace violence was four times more common in healthcare than private industry. South Carolina is one of three states that have no enhanced penalties for violence against healthcare workers.   80 percent of violent incidents were caused by interactions with patients in 2013.   Of the more than 24,000 workplace assaults that occur annually, 70% happen in the healthcare and social services field. The estimated cost of violence response efforts in U.S. hospitals and health systems was approximately $2.7 billion in 2016.  

web site www.hospitalsafezones.com redirects to this page on the SCHA site

social media

legislation introduced in sc assault charge on ems personnel, an emergency room doctor or nurse while on duty, carries an automatic felony charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (max 20 years) opposition penalty should follow the crime and not determined by who is the victim why is healthcare more dangerous than other industries? working with people with violent histories working with people with substance abuse issues lifting, moving, transporting, “touching” patients

why is healthcare more dangerous than other industries (cont)? unrestricted public access working alone poor environmental design and poor lighting work in high-crime areas long wait times and overcrowded waiting room inadequate training and policies IS THAT ENOUGH? There’s more: Inadequate security, high worker turnover, presence of firearms

types of legislation in other states enhanced penalties for violence against emts, firefighters, paramedics enhanced penalties for violence against emergency healthcare workers enhanced penalties for violence against all healthcare workers (34 states) varying degrees of felony based on whether a weapon was used and other aggravating factors in nc, assault against a healthcare worker is a Class I felony if no weapon is used, which has a maximum prison time of 24 months in ga, assault against an emergency medical provider is punishable by a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison

hospital as a location for increased penalties? some state laws identify the hospital as where an assault must occur for increased penalties example: nc law includes, “Hospital personnel and licensed healthcare providers who are providing or attempting to provide healthcare services to a patient in a hospital.” potential legislation could include: all assaults on a hospital campus, regardless of victim and assailant status assaults against hospital employees on a hospital campus assaults against healthcare providers on a hospital campus