With there currently being no federal law that protects hospital employees from assault and intimidation, U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on April 13 sponsored a bipartisan bill to protect hospital personnel from violence.
“As a practicing physician for more than 15 years, I know just how critical it is to ensure that our nation’s hospitals are safe environments, so our physicians, nurses, and other healthcare personnel can best provide and care for their patients,” Rep. Bucshon said. “The rapid uptick in violence against our nation’s healthcare professionals is negatively impacting their ability to provide quality care for their patients and is worsening levels of stress and burnout.”
The Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, H.R. 2584, which is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), would create legal penalties for individuals who knowingly and intentionally assault or intimidate hospital employees, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bucshon’s office.
H.R. 2584 mirrors protections enacted for aircraft and airport workers and would criminalize assault or intimidation of hospital employees, and it also includes protections for individuals who may be mentally incapacitated due to illness or substance use, the summary says.
“The SAVE Act will put in place legal protections to help deter violence inside our nation’s hospitals and keep these vital institutions safe and secure for patients and healthcare professionals,” said Rep. Bucshon.
The American Hospital Association, the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Indiana Hospital Association, and the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership endorsed the measure, which has been referred to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee for consideration.
“Especially over the past three years, we have seen how vital healthcare workers are for our communities,” Rep. Dean said. “Healthcare workers do so much for us – the least we can do in return is try to ensure they feel safe going to work every day.”