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 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 HealthLeaders Media When it comes to workplace violence in hospitals, emergency departments (EDs) act as a potential powder keg. “The emergency department is a funnel into your institution,” says Fredrick Roll, MA, CHPA-F, CPP, president of Healthcare Security Consultants, Inc., of Frederick, CO, and one of the country’s leading experts on hospital security. “Patients [...]

By Scott Wallask, HealthLeaders Magazine Keeping patients and staff safe is every hospital’s mission, but sometimes hospitals can’t avoid violence. Boston area medical facilities were the scene of violent incidents in October that left a doctor seriously injured, a patient dead, a man injured with a stab wound, and a woman nearly sexually assaulted. The [...]

By Dr. Frederick R. Bieber , The Boston Globe The tragic attack of a Massachusetts General Hospital physician, Dr. Astrid Desrosiers, by a disturbed patient, and the brave, decisive action of an off-duty security guard in coming to her aid underscore the need to improve safety for health care workers. The health care sector employs [...]

By Theresa Boyle, The Toronto Star There are typically two “code whites” a week at Toronto East General Hospital, signalling that a violent situation is unfolding somewhere in the facility. It can be patient on staff or even staff on staff. “One of the issues that has existed in hospitals for the longest time but [...]

By Paul Harasim, Las Vegas Review-Journal The fist driven into the right side of nurse Marilou Tan’s jaw made her feel as though her head might be ripped from her neck. “Oh, my God, why? I was just trying to help you,” she remembers crying as the man who hit her — she had been [...]

By Sonja Puzic, Windsor Star Working with victims of crime and tragedy can be a sombre task, but Dawn Ricker-Vassos never saw it that way. After 10 years at the helm of Victim Services of Windsor and Essex County, Ricker-Vassos says her job taught her about humanity and people’s willingness to help one another in [...]