In a major step to improve protections for emergency physicians and care teams, a New York ACEP-supported bill would empower victims of workplace assault to give statements at their job sites.
This bill requires hospitals to create, or use existing, committees to review instances of violence and receive feedback from employees for how these situations can be addressed and staff protected.
“Our healthcare professionals deserve a workplace free from violence. The passage of this bill reaffirms that the safety of those who care for our communities must be a priority,” said Dr. Penelope C. Lema, President-Elect of New York ACEP. “We are grateful to Assemblymember Cruz and Senator Sepúlveda for recognizing this critical need and driving meaningful change.”
Supporters of the bill include the Workplace Violence Prevention Alliance, a unified group comprised of NYACEP, the New York State Emergency Nurses Association (NYSENA), and the American Nurses Association – New York (ANA-NY).
In a 2024 ACEP poll, 91% of emergency physicians said that they, or a colleague, had been victims of violence in the past year. ACEP is making sure that legislators and health care leaders across the country hear directly from emergency physicians: violence should never be considered “just part of the job.”
ACEP and chapters nationwide are proud to lead the push for accountability and stronger protections for emergency physicians and care teams.
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