AONL Strongly Supports Bill to Protect Health Care Workers

In a letter sent this week to sponsors Reps. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and Larry Bucshon, R-Ind., AONL said it strongly supports the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act of 2022, H.R 7961. The legislation would give health care workers the same legal protections against assault and intimidation that flight crews and airport workers have under federal law. “Despite the proliferation of workplace violence and its deleterious effects on our health care system, we do not have a federal law that protects health care workers from assault or intimidation,” said AONL CEO Robin Begley, DNP, RN, who is also chief nursing officer and senior vice president of workforce for the American Hospital Association (AHA). “In contrast, vigorous enforcement of federal laws criminalizing assault and intimidation against aircraft and airport workers has helped create a safer travel environment, deterring violent behavior and ensuring that offenders face severe consequences for their actions.” (AONL letter, 6/14/22)