The deadly incident of workplace violence at Wilmington Hospital Tuesday was targeted and isolated, according to investigators – but safety in the healthcare setting is a national and statewide concern.
Nationally, healthcare workers are about five times more likely to experience workplace violence, compared to the overall workforce. According to Delaware Healthcare Association President and CEO Brian Frazee, all hospitals have a “robust security protocol – because unfortunately, hospitals are a place where our healthcare workers experience workplace violence – patients, community members who enter the hospital… this is an issue that we take very seriously both at the state and the national level.”
Frazee said DHA was in support of legislation recently approved in the state House of Representatives (House substitute 1 for House bill 322) which would permit employees of or security personnel working for a healthcare institution to detain a person until law enforcement arrives, if the person is presenting a security or safety risk. Also, Delaware Healthcare Association plans to convene a group of its members and stakeholders to talk about ways to reduce violence in the medical setting…