The Western Pennsylvania Regional CMO (Chief Medical Officer) Consortium said last week that healthcare-related violence is on the rise — with more reports of threats, physical interactions (including one at Indiana Regional Medical Center), weapon brandishing and damage to providers or others .
“We understand the frustrations that violence generates, but aggressive words or actions impair the ability to safely provide the care everyone deserves,” the consortium wrote. “As leaders for the people dedicated to your care, we ask again that you never choose, use or condone extreme language, threats, unsolicited physical contact, weapons of any form, or other intimidation while in a healthcare facility .”
The group to which Dr. Richard Neff of the IRMC in White Township, Dr. Carol J. Fox of Excela Health System and CMOs from various hospitals and hospital networks in the region said their teams “want to serve, and we must do so without fear.”
Indiana County District Attorney Robert F. Manzi Jr. said, “Unfortunately, we have had cases where medical personnel have been the victims of harassment and assault in our hospitals or in our prison.”
In some cases, the district attorney said, this takes the form of harsh language, unsolicited requests, or threats.
“In other cases, we have seen employees being physically assaulted,” Manzi said. “The men and women who provide us with medical care and are there for us in emergencies should not put up with such behavior.”
Katie Charlton, Manzi’s Armstrong County counterpart, said she wasn’t aware it was a bigger problem than in the past.
“Unfortunately, we always have some cases where someone has assaulted medical personnel, typically in a mental health situation,” the Armstrong County District Attorney said.
In Westmoreland County, First Assistant District Attorney Chuck Washburn said, “I can’t say we’ve seen an increase in the prosecution of these types of cases. We get them, but I don’t think it’s any more common than it has been in years past.”
Fox acknowledged that “at all three locations (Greensburg, Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant) we have had incidents where individuals either verbally or physically abused our employees. Our staff come to work to take care of patients and it is our duty to make sure they are safe.”
The state police in Squad A, Indiana, have an example reminiscent of a Dec. 30 incident in which a Creekside man was arrested after allegedly becoming combative with IRMC employees.
Troopers said they were notified around 7:30 a.m. that Shawn Lee Lyman, 50, had become combative with hospital workers during his release from the IRMC. Greenfield said the confrontation resulted in minor injuries to two employees.
“Lyman also spat several times in the infirmary during his discharge from the hospital,” said the spokesman for Force A, Indiana. “Lyman was subsequently transferred to the Indiana County Jail.”
Lyman was arraigned before Clymer Magisterial District Judge Christopher S. Welch on multiple counts, including three counts of disorderly conduct, two counts of simple assault and one count of reckless endangerment of another person, and two counts of summary harassment.
Lyman was being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing earlier this week.
“We’re trying to limit access to our facilities,” Excela’s Fox said. “We use metal detectors in our emergency room and we have a 24-hour security presence. We teach our employees de-escalation techniques.”
Excela’s CMO continued, “We understand that these are stressful times and that when someone isn’t feeling well, it’s sometimes scary.” Still, she added, “Verbal or physical violence is never the answer.”
Other consortium members include T. Clark Simpson, MD, at Punxsutawney Area Hospital, IRMC’s partner in the Pennsylvania Mountains Health Care Network; James W. Backstrom, MD, at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital; David Rottinghaus, MD, at Butler Health System; and Elizabeth Dunmore, MD, at Conemaugh Health System in Hastings, Johnstown and Blair and Somerset Counties.
Also Donald M. Whiting, MD, at Allegheny Health Network; Donald M. Yealy, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hospital Network; Michael Cratty, MD, at Heritage Valley Health System; John T. Sullivan, MD, at St. Clair Hospital; John Six, MD, at Washington Hospital; Ali F. Sonel, MD, Pittsburgh Health System, VA; Trina Abla, DO, at Penn Highlands Healthcare; David Shellenbarger, MD, at Sharon Regional Medical Center; David Csikos, MD, at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center.
The Chief Medical Officers concluded that “all together, we can ensure a safe healthcare environment by beginning and staying with mutual respect. We have managed the pandemic and many other changes through collaboration, and we can do that every day during care interactions.”
