Amy Brown, chief nursing officer, field engagement, MHA
The MHA proudly affirms our commitment to the safety and well-being of our patients AND healthcare workers. Which is why we are diligently working to address the alarming rise in violence against healthcare workers and continue to advocate for federal legislation to make assaulting a healthcare worker a federal crime.
As the chief nursing officer for the association, I have the privilege of overseeing the MHA Keystone Center, the safety and quality arm of the association. In addition to supporting MHA’s advocacy on healthcare worker safety, the Keystone Center is a founding partner of Lawrence Technological University’s Healthcare Violence Reduction Center (HVAC). The HVAC is conducting critical, multidisciplinary research to develop innovative solutions to reduce violence against healthcare workers. We’ve also partnered with MHA Endorsed Business Partner, Tarian to offer resources that address violence.
These efforts are more urgent than ever considering new data from the American Hospital Association. Their recent report, The Burden of Violence to U.S. Hospitals, found that hospitals incurred an estimated $18.27 billion in costs related to violence in 2023 alone. Beyond the financial implications, the report also highlights the significant challenges in staff recruitment and retention and the psychological toll on healthcare workers.
Promoting a culture of safety means more than protecting patients – it means protecting those who care for them. We must not only condemn violence against healthcare workers, but also ensure that our workforce strategies and budgets prioritize protecting those who care for others.
Please join me in recognizing the American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence Day by participating in the online dialogue about how hospitals are addressing violence in healthcare settings. Use the hashtag #HAVhope to share your voice.
Together, we can create a culture where safety is universal.
