Hospitals combat workplace violence in health care

Governor Mike Braun proclaims June 6 ‘Hospitals Against Violence Day’

Health care workers are five times more likely to experience an injury due to workplace violence than workers in other industries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The actual total could be as much as three times higher given the likelihood that most incidents are never formally reported.

That’s why the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) recognizes June 6 as Hospitals Against Violence Day – a National Day of Awareness launched in 2016 to combat workplace violence.

In conjunction with IHA’s efforts, Indiana Governor Mike Braun issued a proclamation to recognize Hospitals Against Violence Day, calling out the severe consequences that violence inflicts upon the entire health care system, making it more difficult for nurses, doctors, and other clinical staff to provide quality patient care.

This troubling trend has seen an uptick in incidents here in Indiana and around the world.

The International Association for Healthcare Safety and Security’s 2023 Healthcare Crime Survey reports that incidences of simple assault per 100 hospital beds went up 105.6 percent over a 10-year period, and has steadily grown, particularly from 2020 through 2022.

“Simply put – any acts of violence cannot be tolerated,” said Larry Tracy, President of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, which is part of Beacon Health System, and Chair of IHA’s Council on Quality and Safety. “Our caregivers dedicate their lives to healing others and deserve a workplace where they feel safe and secure while performing their lifesaving duties. We welcome and appreciate Gov. Braun issuing this proclamation and standing with all Hoosier hospitals to help prevent further violence.”

Hospitals throughout the state are raising awareness so residents understand how violence can impact the care they receive in any health care setting and in any community, large or small. The key to responding to violence is in preparation, training, and reporting.

“Workplace violence can take many forms – and can happen anywhere in our buildings, whether it’s in the emergency department or on a patient floor,” said Jennifer Hendrickson, Emergency Operations and Safety Manager for Reid Health in Richmond, which experienced a nearly four-hour lockdown in April in response to an active shooter threat.

The threat was eventually determined to not be on campus, allowing operations to resume while a lockdown remained in place, yet the team at Reid demonstrated the importance of its proactive training and other safety protocols put in place by the hospital.

“At Reid Health, we’re fortunate to have the support of our administrative team as we implement a workplace violence prevention program,” Hendrickson said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. It can’t be viewed as just the latest trend. It requires a lot of attention and support to maintain, and hospital leadership must be involved.”

Crissy Lough, Risk, Regulatory, and Patient Safety Officer and Associate CNO at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis, said violence in that health care facility has also increased in recent years at a steady rate.

“The stress of the pandemic exhausted our staff and they cannot continue to be assaulted either physically or verbally,” Lough said. “Promoting the reporting of each incident lets our team know they shouldn’t have to endure that to work, and we will continue to stand beside them.”

Eskenazi Health pays close attention to the environments at all its locations. Patients and visitors go through the metal detectors, and if circumstances warrant it, are scanned using a handheld device, while personal items and bags are sent through an X-ray machine. They have also added facility lighting, security cameras, and panic buttons, and cut back tall grasses in parking areas.

Security enhancements such as these are crucial – as is proactive training for employees, Lough said.

While hospitals like Eskenazi, Reid, and Memorial have extensive protocols to detect and deter violence, the daily toll on employees can be immense, causing burnout and turnover, while preventing staff from providing the best possible care to patients.

Adding to the already high cost of care, the toll carries a hefty price tag for hospitals.

A new report released this week by the American Hospital Association estimates providers spent $14.65 billion in 2023 responding to workplace violence in health care facilities nationwide, and an additional $3.62 billion to prepare for acts such as assault, homicide, suicide, and firearm violence.

Ensuring a ‘Safe and Sound’ environment for staff & patients

Beyond Hospitals Against Violence Day, IHA is continuing to lead efforts throughout the year with its Safe and Sound workplace safety initiative, led by Laurie Gerdt, IHA Quality and Patient Safety Advisor.

“The public doesn’t usually see the physical and verbal abuse our health care workers endure on a day-to-day basis,” Gerdt said. “We have to continue the conversation that our hospitals do not stand for aggressive behavior and address it head-on.”

Launched in 2023, this comprehensive violence prevention program aims to increase public understanding of the problem of workplace safety and violence, improve data collection, and analyzation of workplace safety perceptions and events to assess and mitigate risk, and provide training for members.

Statehouse response to health care worker safety

The initiative also hopes to gain legislative traction to support health care worker safety.

Indiana law currently provides an enhanced penalty for battery committed against certain licensed health care professionals and any staff member of an emergency department in a hospital. During the 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 419, authored by Sen. Cyndi Carrasco (R-Indianapolis), sought to expand those protections and apply them to acts of violence and verbal intimidation against all health care workers.

Members of the Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee voted 7-1 in favor of SB 419, and it was approved by the full Senate 42-7. However, the bill did not move forward in the House of Representatives.

“Given the continued rise in violence in health care, and not just in emergency departments, we hope to see these provisions considered again next year by both chambers,” said Tracy, who testified in support of SB 419 in February. “More needs to be done to hold those who commit violence accountable for their actions.”

The stakes for caregiver safety could not be higher as Hendrickson from Reid Health pointed out: “Essentially, safe caregivers provide better patient care.”

About Indiana Hospital Association
The Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana. IHA advocates on behalf of its members in Indiana’s General Assembly, U.S. Congress, and with multiple regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels. Dedicated to improving quality, patient safety, and Hoosiers’ health status, IHA holds numerous grants and facilitates collaboration among hospitals to improve outcomes. IHA also provides members with the data analytics that they need to ensure access to quality, cost-effective health care services across the state of Indiana. To learn more about IHA, visit IHAconnect.org.