Bill Overview
Title: SAVE Act
Description: This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly assaulting or intimidating hospital personnel during the performance of their official duties in a manner that interferes with their performance of the duties or limits their ability to perform the duties. Additionally, the bill authorizes grants to reduce the incidence of violence at hospitals, including violence or intimidation against hospital personnel in the performance of their duties.
Sponsors: Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Target Audience
Population: Hospital personnel (doctors, nurses, and support staff)
Estimated Size: 6000000
- The bill specifically targets hospital personnel by aiming to provide them with enhanced safety and legal protections against violence and intimidation.
- Hospital personnel include doctors, nurses, and administrative and support staff working within hospital settings.
- Violence and intimidation in hospitals not only affects the victims but can also impact hospital operations, patient care, and the overall healthcare environment.
- In 2021, data suggests there are over 6 million individuals employed in hospital settings in the United States alone.
- Internationally, the globalization of healthcare operations results in similar standards being applied to prevent violence against healthcare workers, impacting millions worldwide.
Reasoning
- The primary target population is hospital personnel, which includes a substantial number of individuals across different roles within hospitals.
- We anticipate varying levels of impact among different hospital workers. Frontline workers like nurses and emergency room staff might experience a higher impact due to increased exposure to potential violence compared to administrative staff.
- Not every hospital employee will perceive the change in safety due to this policy equally, as some may not regularly face the threat of violence or intimidation.
- The budget allows for implementation of security measures and training programs that could meaningively impact hospital environments but might not reach all individuals uniformly.
- It is expected that the policy will contribute to an improved sense of safety and wellbeing for those frequently facing violence, thereby resulting in improved overall life and job satisfaction scores.
- General public, patients, or those not involved in medical environments directly might not feel a pronounced difference unless they directly interact with hospital settings.
Simulated Interviews
Emergency Room Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step in the right direction by acknowledging the reality of workplace violence we face.
- I hope the grants lead to meaningful changes in our hospital's security protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Hospital Administrator (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's essential to protect our frontline workers to make the hospital environment safer for everyone.
- Additional resources from grants would help us implement better safety measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Medical Technician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support policies that protect my colleagues, but personally, I haven't faced aggression at work.
- The policy may not directly affect my day-to-day experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Security Officer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate any effort to minimize violence in our hospitals.
- Increased focus might mean more resources for hospital security teams.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Neurosurgeon (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I seldom encounter direct threats, but supporting all staff safety is crucial.
- The impact on my personal work environment might be minimal but helpful for others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Intensive Care Unit Nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing safety protocols and legal protection is overdue.
- The policy could significantly alleviate some stress when working under pressure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Hospital Janitorial Staff (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have not experienced threats at work, so the policy won't change much for me.
- I do support more safety for my colleagues who deal with violence.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Pediatric Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supporting additional measures against violence ensures a safer workplace.
- The policy could reinforce the security systems we have in place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Physical Therapist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may not drastically change how I work, but I welcome any steps that increase workplace safety.
- Confused patients can be challenging, and I am glad this issue is getting attention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Hospital Pharmacist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the focus on protecting hospital workers is crucial, though my job is relatively safe.
- It's good to know my hospital is focusing on safety for everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The implementation of law enforcement strategies to enforce new offenses must be effectively managed to avoid unnecessary legal costs.
- Ensuring the grants are appropriately allocated to have meaningful impacts on hospital safety.
- Monitoring the effectiveness of funded programs to adjust future funding needs.