The AAMC and other hospital groups, including the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals, sent letters of support to the House and Senate lead sponsors of the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584/ S. 2768) on Jan. 24. The legislation would provide federal protections to health care workers who are the victims of workplace violence.
The letters to Reps. Larry Bucshon, MD, (R-Ind.) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) and Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) highlighted that “the number of violent attacks against health care workers has increased markedly in recent years.” They also noted that these types of attacks not only “affect the individual provider, who may suffer from both physical and psychological trauma,” but they can also “interfere with patient care when providers fear for their personal safety, are distracted by disruptive patients or family members, or are traumatized from prior violent interactions.”
- Washington Highlights