HAVhope Friday Puts Spotlight on Safe Workplaces

June 02, 2023

On HAVhope Friday, HAP and Pennsylvania’s hospital community are highlighting efforts to combat violence in our workplaces and communities.

Today marks the seventh annual Hospitals Against Violence #HAVhope Friday, highlighting how hospitals and health systems continue to focus on building safe workplaces and communities. The annual event, organized by the American Hospital Association, also puts the spotlight on violence as a public health issue, and the ways human trafficking, gun violence, and mass violence incidents affect our communities.

HAP and the hospital community continue to focus on initiatives that can support healthy workplaces. HAP is urging Congress to support the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act. The bipartisan effort is co-led by a member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), who reintroduced the bill earlier this year along with Representative Larry Bucshon, MD (R-Ind.)

The SAVE Act aims to address violence against health care workers by:

• Establishing federal, criminal penalties for those who knowingly assault and intimidate hospital employees. The bill includes enhanced penalties for the use of a dangerous weapon that results in injury and acts committed during a public emergency, as well as exceptions for individuals who may be mentally incapacitated due to illness or substance use.
• Authorizing $25 million per year in grant funding over the next decade for initiatives to reduce violence and intimidation in hospitals.

Violence and abuse targeting health care workers is not part of the job and is never acceptable. Hospitals continue to focus on initiatives that promote trauma support, a culture of safety, reduce violence, and mitigate risks. HAP joins the AHA and hospitals throughout the nation urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act.

Additional information about HAVhope Friday is available online.