SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to growing incidents of workplace violence committed against health care workers, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is sponsoring legislation to require the implementation of new anti-violence measures at Illinois veterans’ homes, hospitals and other medical facilities.

“Health care providers go to work each day to provide life-saving patient care, yet more frequently their jobs are placing them in harm’s way,” said Halpin. “Acts of aggression committed against hospital employees have increased in recent years, and this issue needs to be taken seriously.”

The Halpin-backed House Bill 4100 creates the Health Care Violence Prevention Act, which requires medical facilities to develop a workplace violence prevention program, and explicitly forbids health care management from discouraging employees from contacting law enforcement or filing a complaint if an incident of workplace violence does occur. Additionally, the measure requires hospitals to establish protocols for the reception of potentially violent patients transferred from law enforcement. The legislation comes in response to at least two incidents at Illinois hospitals in the past year during which an inmate undergoing treatment used a weapon to hold nurses hostage.

“Nurses are especially vulnerable to violence because they are on the front lines and spend more time with patients than other health care providers,” said Halpin. “This legislation aims to mitigate incidents that result in injuries, sending a strong message that fear of violence should not be part of the job and will not be ignored.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois nurses would be better protected from workplace violence under legislation introduced Monday by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego.

“In the last decade, workplace violence against nurses has increased at an alarming rate,” Kifowit said. “An attack on one nurse can endanger the lives of many patients in their care, so it’s critical that we take steps to ensure health care professionals are protected against violent individuals.”

Kifowit’s House Bill 4100 would require all facilities employing nurses to institute Workplace Violence Prevention Programs, including committees that are made up of nurses, doctors, administrators, and others who work at the facility charged with reviewing security issues, how to handle potentially violent patients, and  establishing policies that ensure the reporting, recording, and monitoring of incidents. Kifowit’s bill is largely built off of recommendations from the 2016 Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers.

“Nurses advocate for patients. Yet, historically, nurses have suffered verbal and physical abuse from our patients and others. Who will advocate for nurses?” said Doris Carroll, vice president of the Illinois Nurses Association. “I would like to thank Representative Kifowit for introducing this legislation and bringing awareness to the issue of workplace safety for our nurses.”

Kifowit’s measure would also provide whistle-blower protections for nurses who file criminal complaints against individuals who attack them. This would protect nurse from backlash from their employers for reporting assaults.

“Unfortunately, far too often nurses feel intimidated about reporting workplace violence,” said Alice Johnson, executive director of the Illinois Nurses Association. “Representative Kifowit’s bill would provide nurses across Illinois with a safer workplace and help health care professionals better care for their patients.”