Premier Supports Legislation to Protect Healthcare Workers Against Violence

Premier joined eight other national hospital groups in voicing support for the bipartisan, bicameral Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (S. 2768 / H.R. 2584). Modeled after current protections for aircraft and airport workers, the bill provides federal protections for healthcare workers who experience violence and intimidation in their workplace settings.

The results of a Premier survey that shed light on the incidence of workplace violence in healthcare settings underscored the need for these federal protections. Conducted in conjunction with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and shared with Congress, the survey revealed that 40 percent of healthcare workers have experienced an act of workplace violence in the two years prior to the survey. More than half of all survey respondents felt that workplace violence incidents had increased during their tenure.