Hello!
I'm so glad that you are checking out this blog. To help you get the most out of this site:

-If you are a health care provider who has been the victim of workplace violence at work, there is a page to "Tell Your Story". Please share your experience to help educate others on the dangers that we are frequently exposed to while caring for others and doing our jobs.

-If you would like to voice your support for this issue and learn how you can help, please click on the page "Get Involved." The Texas legislative session has started, and we have legislation on the table to fight for. Texas health care providers need YOUR help!

-If you would like more information on workplace violence, there is a page of "Workplace Violence Statistics" and "Other Links" to various government and professional organizations.

-If you are wondering why this issue is important, and why you personally should care, then you should read the page (and my personal favorite) "The Hospital is Not the Twilight Zone." This is my argument for why this issue matters and why felony legislation is needed now in Texas for assaulting a health care provider at work.

Nobody Deserves to be Abused at Work...It's NOT Part of the Job!

The Hospital is Not the 'Twilight Zone'

If I asked you to think about the most dangerous occupations, health care probably would not make your list. However, health care providers face staggeringly high rates of workplace assault and injury. Those providers at greatest risk are those that spend the most time with patients and the public providing care, such as nurses. While certain settings of practice are notorious for their high rates of workplace violence, all health care settings are potential breeding grounds assaults and abuse of health care providers.

You may be thinking to yourself-so what? OK, workplace violence is a problem in health care. There are lots of professions that deal with violence daily, such as police officers, EMS providers, first responders, security guards, government employees. That's right! All of those professions are exposed to high levels and risk of violence. HOWEVER, in the state of Texas they are afforded enhanced criminal protections for assaults with bodily injury and intent. That is exactly what Texas health care providers deserve and are asking for. We simply want the same level of legal protection given to other employment classes that have increased risk because of their job role. (see page "Bill Information" for more detail on the individual bills). We are not asking for "special protection," we are asking for the same protection that is in place for other trusted and respected employment classes at high risk for workplace assault. Several states have already passed similar legislation, and many more are in progress.

In many cases, including my own personal experience, workplace assaults in health care settings are not taken seriously by the criminal justice system. Health care providers are often told..."this happened while you were at work..." as an explanation of why an assailant is not arrested. If I were attacked at Wal-Mart, walking down the street, or working at a restaurant, I have no doubt that the assailant would be arrested. Why is this any different in health care settings?

When you cross the threshold into health care settings, you do not enter "the twilight zone." It is not another dimension of space and time in which the rules and laws of society become suspended. Since health care settings are not parallel universes, why is assaulting a health care provider not taken more seriously? We cannot create a realm of society where crimes can be committed and nothing happens. If that same perpetrator went into the parking lot and broke into a car, or attacked a visitor, or broke into your house, would you want them to go to jail? Absolutely! Criminal behavior should be addressed by criminal penalties. We cannot continue to give people a "free pass" to behave in any manner they choose to because they are angry, intoxicated, grieving, in pain, etc.

With the increasing need for Texas health care providers and the decreasing availability of health care services, it is imperative that Texas legislators make every effort to increase the criminal penalties for assaulting those that are working to help and serve the people of Texas. Hospitals and health care settings are supposed to be a safe haven for everyone where they may receive the best possible care in a protected environment.

Who is protecting the Texas health care providers?

*Bill Information*

The bill that was PASSED in the 2013 Texas legislative session regarding increasing the criminal penalties for assaults against "Emergency room personnel" to a third degree felony is HB 705. 

This bill was authored by the honorable Representative D. Howard in the Texas House of Representatives, and sponsored by the honorable Senator C. Schwertner in the Texas Senate.

  • For bill language and history, please see the direct link to the bill from the Texas Legislatiure:
  • http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB705

This is information about bills in the 2011 Texas legislative session regarding workplace violence in health care settings.

HB 703, introduced and carried by the honorable R. Gutierrez.
  • This proposed legislation adds health care providers (already defined in the Texas penal code) to the list of protected classes in the existing Texas assault statute (along with police officers, EMS providers, government employees) with felony level penalties for assault with bodily injury and intent.
SB 295, introduced and carried by the honorable K. Watson
  • This proposed legislation would refine the definition of "emergency services personnel" to also include emergency room personnel. (currently includes firefighters, EMS providers, first responders). 
To follow the bills or more information, go to the Texas Legislature's website "bill lookup" page. Just type in the bill number at the top (including HB or SB), and make sure the default selection is "history" for the bill and you are searching the 82nd legislature (2011).
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