Joint Statement on Workplace Violence and Protecting Those Who Care

Washington, DC – On National Patient Safety Day and National Physician Suicide Awareness Day, the American Nurses Association (ANA),  Association of American Medical Colleges, American College of Emergency Physicians, American  Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Children’s Hospital Association, Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation, National Association of Social Workers, National Health Council, and the National Rural Health Association reaffirm their commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of the healthcare workforce and the patients they serve. Today’s Capitol Hill briefing, Protecting Those Who Care: Addressing Violence Against Healthcare Workers, highlighted the epidemic of violence confronting healthcare workers and its deleterious effects on the workforce, patients and the healthcare system as a whole.

Every day, healthcare workers face an unacceptable reality: the all too frequent incidents of violence in health care settings disrupt patient care and result in injuries or death. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently shown that healthcare and social service workers experience workplace violence at higher rates than workers in any other sector, a troubling trend that persists despite national attention and numerous efforts to mitigate risk and protect healthcare workers.

As national organizations representing the ecosystem of healthcare delivery, including hospitals and health systems, clinicians, social workers, patients, and other advocates, we stand united in our belief that no one should be harmed while providing or receiving care. Workplace violence, including physical assaults, threats, intimidation, and harassment, erodes the safety and dignity of healthcare workers, directly contributes to staff burnout and turnover, and staffing shortages, and compromises the quality of care and patient safety. This violence undermines providers’ ability to ensure safe, healing environments for all.

Our organizations support efforts that prioritize prevention, promote effective workplace safety practices, and reinforce the shared responsibility of health care leaders and the workforce to foster a culture of safety. This includes investing in evidence-based approaches, strengthening systems to prevent and respond to violence, and fostering reporting. A safe and supported healthcare workforce is essential to delivering safe, high-quality patient care.

American Nurses Association

Association of American Medical Colleges

American College of Emergency Physicians

American Hospital Association

American Psychiatric Association

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

Children's Hospital Association

Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation

National Association of Social Workers

National Health Council

National Rural Health Association