1. Healthcare Workplace Violence: Communication & Legislative Strategy

2. Status Quo

3. Status Quo

4. Status Quo

5. 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

6. SC: No Enhanced Penalties

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

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

12. employee facing campaign

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

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

15. 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.

16. public facing campaign

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

18. 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  
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  

19. web site
redirects to this page on the SCHA site

20. social media

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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