from The Patriot Ledger After failing year after year, a bill that lengthens jail sentences for people who attack health-care workers has been signed into law. “This is such a great thing,” said Sheila Wilson, a registered nurse from Quincy who watched Gov. Deval Patrick sign the bill Friday. “People are finally taking health-care violence [...]

Press Release from Massachusetts Nurses Association Surrounded by registered nurses and legislators, Governor Deval Patrick today signed a law that will stiffen the penalties for those who assault nurses and other health care workers, one of a series of measures the state’s nurses are proposing to address the growing problem of workplace violence in health [...]

By Jenn Marshall, Nanaimo News Bulletin Violence prevention efforts paid off for the Vancouver Island Health Authority in the form of provincial recognition for its training program. The health authority’s violence prevention team received an award of merit in the workplace health innovation category at the Health Employers Association of B.C.’s Excellence in B.C. Healthcare [...]

By Madonna Behen, Bloomberg Businessweek More and more violent crimes are occurring in America’s hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities, according to a new alert issued by the Joint Commission, an independent health care oversight group. Since 2004, there have been “significant increases in reports of assault, rape and homicide, with the greatest number [...]

From The Joint Commission Once considered safe havens, health care institutions today are confronting steadily increasing rates of crime, including violent crimes such as assault, rape and homicide. As criminal activity spills over from the streets onto the campuses and through the doors, providing for the safety and security of all patients, visitors and staff [...]

By Dr. Fraser Houston, The Durango Herald Herald Staff Writer Article Last Updated; Monday, May 31, 2010 12:00AMThirty years ago, an ambulance-borne patient and a deputy sheriff arrived at the emergency room. The patient had no history of trauma, in fact, no real history at all. A male lay silently on the stretcher, normal vital [...]

By Evan Sweeney, HealthLeaders Media As the initial waves of the newly passed healthcare reform law begin to ripple out, safety committee members should consider how the changes could affect environment of care and occupational health concerns. “To the extent you believe the healthcare reform law will increase the demand for services, it could certainly [...]

By Daniel Lombard, CommunityCare.co.uk The NHS has introduced a series of national measures to tackle violence against staff. Daniel Lombard asks whether these could provide a blueprint for social care. Health and social care staff share many of the same risks when they start work each day. Both groups work with vulnerable patients and service [...]

from Massachusetts Nurses Association The management of Tufts Medical Center has been forced to pay a $5,000 fine, as well as to post a public notice this month for its registered nurses, detailing numerous lapses in its efforts to track injuries to nurses, including a significant number of needle stick injuries, which could have exposed [...]