News: Rep. Matt Claman & Rep. Chuck Kopp Work Together on Legislation to Protect Medical Professionals in the Workplace

CONTACT: Lizzie Kubitz (907) 465-4904          

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2018

Press Conference Friday to Announce Legislation Addressing Violence in Health Care Facilities

Rep. Matt Claman & Rep. Chuck Kopp Work Together on Legislation to Protect Medical Professionals in the Workplace

Juneau – Tomorrow, Representative Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) and Representative Chuck Kopp (R-Anchorage) will announce the introduction of the Workplace Violence Initiative, legislation that will help address the problem of assaults within healthcare facilities.

Alaska hospitals have reported an increase in workplace violence over the past year, in­cluding assaults with a physical injury against care­ givers, such as being kicked, punched, spit on, or verbally threat­ened.

“Hospitals report that if staff call the police to re­port an assault, the police frequently cite the individual and leave them at the hospital rather than arresting them,” said Rep. Claman. “Hospitals, emergency rooms, and other healthcare facilities are meant to be places where medical professionals can safely administer care. If this issue is left unaddressed, it could impact the well-being and quality of care for all patients. This bill supports hard-working nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals throughout Alaska, and I look forward to working with Representative Kopp to address this public safety issue.”

The Workplace Violence Initiative is supported by the Alaska State Hospital & Nursing Home Association (ASHNA), the American College of Emergency Physicians (Alaska ACEP), and the Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA).

“Nurses and emergency room physicians face a rising tide of violence in the workplace due to increasing numbers of drug addicts, alcoholics, and persons with severe behavioral health disorders showing up at emergency rooms. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Kopp. “This legislation recognizes that treating patients and protecting healthcare workers is not an either/or proposition. Both are a priority.”

Tomorrow’s press conference will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the Critical Care Unit Waiting Room at the Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau.

WHAT: Workplace Violence Initiative Press Conference

WHERE: Critical Care Unit Waiting Room, Bartlett Regional Hospital, 3260 Hospital Dr., Juneau, Alaska

WHEN: 9:00 a.m., Friday, January 26, 2018

Visitors are advised to park in the visitor/patient parking lots. For a map of the Bartlett Regional Hospital Campus, please visit: https://www.bartletthospital.org/media/4898/mapbase2013.pdf

For more information, please contact Lizzie Kubitz in Rep. Claman’s office at (907) 465-4904.

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