Ending Workplace Violence

Going into this week, the big thing on my mind is the House Judiciary Committee’s discussion on the violence against health care workers bill, S.36.

Regulatory Flexibilities: The governor signed the COVID regulatory flexibilities bill, H.411, into law last week just shy of the March 31st deadline. VAHHS appreciates the quick work on this bill from the legislature and the governor’s office.

In Vermont, for both weather and the legislature, March is in like a lion and out like a lion. Last week wrapped up the crossover deadline for money bills.

We’re officially in the second half of the session. Anything that didn’t get passed out of its committee of jurisdiction is dead… unless it’s a money bill; or dispensation is requested; or it is turned into a committee bill; or it gets tacked on to a different bill.

According to media reports, more than 40,000 graduating medical students found out where there will spend the next several years in medical residency and training on what is appropriately referred to as “Match Day” this past week.

Happy Town Meeting Week! You may see your local legislator out in the wild at the grocery store or the transfer station. If you do, feel free to share the VAHHS Advocacy Agenda. Next week will be crossover week, where non-money bills must be voted out of committees or else remain on the wall until next year. Stay tuned!

Please take a few minutes to watch the video from our Workplace Violence Summit. I hope that you are moved to support S.36, now under consideration in the Vermont House, which is an important first step toward making this unacceptable violence stop.

As we head into town meeting week next week, the countdown to crossover has begun. Things are starting to move fast!

Despite weather warm enough to keep the Capitol doors open earlier last week, the return to cold weather reminded us that the session is far from over. We’re hunkering down as bills pass out of committees and the House starts working on the FY 2024 budget in earnest.

The legislature had a busy week last week touching upon key advocacy priorities for VAHHS and more.

It was only a few short years ago when health care workers were praised as heroes for braving the pandemic. Today, many of those workers now face a different fear -- violent attacks by their patients. Health care facilities across the state say their employees are increasingly threatened by the patients they are trying to treat.

Health care workers say they are being assaulted by the people they care for at an alarming rate. But some say a proposed law aimed at protecting those workers might not be the answer.

Southwestern Vermont Health Care has debuted a new policy to prevent aggressive and violent behavior toward its healthcare staff, the Bennington, Vt.-based system said Feb. 2. Like many hospitals across the nation, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center has seen an increase in the proportion of staff reporting violent behavior from patients and visitors.

VAHHS wants to thank Sen. Dick Sears and Sen. Ginny Lyons for holding a joint hearing last week to hear from health care providers on S.36 and workplace violence.

During a joint session of the Senate Judiciary and Health and Welfare committees, 10 witnesses organized by the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems urged legislators to support S.36. The new bill would add three clauses specific to health care workers and health care facilities to Rule 3 of the Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure, which governs when law enforcement officers can arrest someone without a warrant.

A new Vermont law is aimed at deterring assaults against health care workers at health facilities.

It’s long past time to stop the scourge of workplace violence in our community hospitals and health care settings. These are places for health and healing, peace and recovery.