Joint Statement: Healthcare and Law Enforcement Unite to Address Violence in Healthcare

Press and News: Policy and Legislation

Joint Statement: Healthcare and Law Enforcement Unite to Address Violence in Healthcare

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 (0 Comments)
Posted by: Gabi Nintunze

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TNA CEO Dr. Serena Bumpus (center), joined by (from left) Texas Hospital Association President and CEO John M. Hawkins, Texas House Rep. Donna Howard, Travis County District Attorney José Garza, Texas Emergency Nurses Association Board President Dr. Shawntay Harris, and Texas Medical Association’s Dr. Elizabeth Duckworth, reads the official joint statement during a press conference.

On Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, the Texas Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition (NLAC) hosted industry leaders and elected officials for a full-day workplace violence prevention summit to continue its efforts of ensuring safety in all Texas healthcare facilities. The summit dove deeper into the impact of SB 240, which requires “healthcare facilities to adopt, implement, and enforce a written workplace violence prevention plan to protect healthcare providers and employees from violent behavior and threats of violent behavior.” At noon, a press conference was held with the following speakers in attendance:

Texas House Rep. Donna Howard (District 48)
Travis County District Attorney José Garza
Dr. Shawntay Harris, Board President, Texas Emergency Nurses Association
John M. Hawkins, President and CEO, Texas Hospital Association
Dr. Elizabeth Duckworth, Texas Medical Association

You can watch coverage of the event and press conference from CBS Austin here and read the signed joint statement below.

Texas House Rep. Donna Howard starts the day providing historical context for the evolution of SB 240 and her own personal experience of workplace violence as a nurse in critical care.

The Texas Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition, a coalition of 23 nursing organizations administered by the Texas Nurses Association, along with the Texas Hospital Association, and the Texas Medical Association are dedicated to protecting patients and healthcare professionals from violence in healthcare facilities.

Today’s summit is an example of that collaborative effort.

In recent years, there has been a disturbing increase in the rate of violent incidents against healthcare professionals and those present at healthcare facilities. This is a national trend, and Texas is no exception.

In the 88^th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, our members brought their concerns to their elected officials and advised legislators on the development of Senate Bill 240. In response, the legislation passed with an overwhelming majority and received the Governor’s signature indicating broad recognition of the problem and unity around addressing the issue.

The new law envisions all the state’s healthcare facilities working closely with local law enforcement to address violent incidents while the state oversees implementation of the law more broadly. Furthermore, covered healthcare facilities are charged with assembling committees of nurses, physicians, and security personnel to create policies and plans of action with the purpose of preventing violent occurrences.

We are committed to the effective implementation of this law and call on law enforcement throughout the state to join us in using this new legal tool to reverse the trend of increasing violence in healthcare settings.

There should not be any roadblocks toward a safer workplace, and a safer community. Healthcare facilities are places of healing, and no one should experience violence when seeking care.

Signed organizations

Texas Nurses Association, on behalf of Texas Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition (listed)