Hospital groups endorse bill to protect health care workers from violence

The AHA and seven other national hospital organizations today voiced support for the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced last week by Reps. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and Larry Bucshon, M.D., R-Ind., that would give health care workers the same legal protections against assault and intimidation that flight crews and airport workers have under federal law.

“In addition to offering federal level protections to health care workers, we appreciate that the SAVE Act would provide grants to hospitals for programs to help reduce the incidence of violence in our care settings,” the organizations said in a letter of support for the bill. “These grants could be used for training hospital personnel, coordinating with state and local law enforcement and purchasing of equipment or technology that will assist in creating a safer environment.”