AHA Issues Statement in Support of Save Healthcare Workers Act

The AHA has released a statement in support of a piece of legislation introduced called the Save Healthcare Workers Act.

The organization writes that “every day, healthcare workers bravely serve our communities, providing lifesaving care often under stressful circumstances.” They also emphasize that “ensuring a safe working environment for healthcare providers must be a national priority. Acts of violence not only jeopardize the physical and psychological health of victims, but they also disrupt patient care and contribute to staff burnout and workforce shortages.”

Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Angus King and Representatives Madeleine Dean and Mariannette Miller-Meeks introduced the piece of legislation that would “make it a federal crime to assault a hospital staff member on the job. Over the years, hospitals and health systems have implemented numerous protocols to stem workplace violence but they need help.”

Further, “by enacting federal protections Congress can create a powerful deterrent against workplace violence in hospitals and increase penalties for those who harm our caregivers.” The association urges “Congress to support this legislation and stand ready to work with them to ensure it becomes law without delay.”