St. Joseph’s Hospital healthcare workers who are sometimes attacked by patients or family members on the job are about to get more protections to keep them and patients safe. The State Legislature and governor recently approved measures which allow some security officers with former police officer experience to become peace officers at the hospital. CEO Dr. Steven Hanks said healthcare workers mistreated by patients has consistently worsened.
“In the last six years, the acts of aggression against our staff have increased by 60%. Punching, kicking, biting, spitting," he said. "I mean just unbelievable things. And no one should fear being insulted while they’re doing the work that healthcare workers do.”
Adding peace officers can’t happen fast enough for nurses like Lauren Giannetti. She’s director of Behavioral Health Programs and serves as co-chair of the hospital’s Workplace Violence Committee. Giannetti said an adult male patient once became so hostile, he ripped off a wall mirror and chased after her intending to use it as a weapon.
“I was worried about what if they go in another patient’s room?" she said. "What if, you know, they actually hurt me with this mirror? It’s just very scary to be in those situations alone.”
A memorandum of understanding needs to be drafted between the hospital and in consultation with Syracuse Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office to outline the situations peace officers can respond to. It could take a couple of years to promote qualified staff members to peace officers at St. Joe’s.
