How Pa. Hospitals are Taking a Stand on Gun Violence

New grant funding supports hospital-based violence intervention initiatives

December 16, 2024

Pennsylvania hospitals are leading the way to address gun violence through new programs that make their communities safer.

Last week, state officials visited Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia to discuss new grant funding to support hospital-based violence intervention programs. State leaders announced $4 million in new federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to support these initiatives across the commonwealth.

Leaders from the hospital system outlined their own work to launch a hospital-based violence intervention program at Temple University Hospital during 2019 with assistance and support from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The work is an example of the need for strong partnerships to confront the epidemic of gun violence.

“Now we are better able to serve the needs of violently injured patients with the addition of full-time trauma victim support advocates, case managers, therapists, and a workforce development specialist, and have team members at the bedside to offer support the moment the patient enters the hospital,” Abhi Rastogi, MBA, MIS, and president CEO of Temple University Hospital, said in a statement.

Here are five things to know:

• Background:  Hospital-based violence intervention programs provide trauma-informed care and support to individuals who have experienced violent injury. These programs work with community-based partners to provide immediate and longer-term services and support.
• Why it matters:  Research indicates these programs can help prevent cycles of gun violence by reducing the likelihood of reinjury and retaliation.
• Taking action:  PCCD analysis found significant gaps in services in communities with high levels of gun violence that do not have access to these hospital-based programs.
• Next steps:  The new funding will increase access to these hospital-based intervention programs and provide comprehensive support and training for existing and new programs.
• Quotable:  “Gun violence isn’t just a Philadelphia problem—it’s a Pennsylvania problem and, uniquely, an American problem,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, who also serves as the chair of the PCCD. “However, it’s a problem we can and must do something about, and the city of Philadelphia has been making great strides to combat the epidemic of gun violence by treating it like a public health crisis and working with local hospitals and health care providers to support victims and make our communities safer.”

Learn more about these initiatives and the new funding opportunity online.