Violence has become one of the major public health and safety issues throughout the country. Within the walls of our health care facilities, violence can take many forms, including an active shooter on the premises, patient-to-staff or family-to-staff physical aggression, domestic violence and patients who are victims of street or gang violence.
The American Hospital Association’s Hospitals Against Violence initiative is helping to shine the spotlight on violence and what health care providers are doing to address the problem. Hospitals and health systems are encouraged to share any programs or steps being taken to address violence by emailing details to hospitalsagainstviolence@aha.org. Shared stories may be used on AHA’s website.
Additionally, on June 8, #HAVhope Day of Awareness, hospitals are asked to join colleagues across the country to show hope and commitment to combating all forms of violence with a digital media campaign of shared tweets, posted photos and other online efforts. Click here to access AHA’s digital toolkit with ready-to-use graphics and social media content. AHA also has available to download a #HAVhope sign that can be used for a staff photo.
Questions about the #HAVhope initiative can be emailed to Kimberly Nelson, Manager, Communications & Education for the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations.
