A report from the American Hospital Association highlights hospital spending on workplace and community violence.
The report, “The Burden of Violence to U.S. Hospitals: A Comprehensive Assessment of Financial Costs and Other Impacts of Workplace and Community Violence,” was prepared for the AHA by Harborview Injury and Prevention Research Center in Seattle, part of the University of Washington School of Medicine.
For the report, analysts used mixed methods that incorporated various data sources, including existing federal and state data sources, published literature and primary data to identify the financial costs and broader impacts of violence and threatening behavior on hospitals, broken down by pre- and post-event costs.
Additionally, researchers examined financial cost estimates by violence type and analyzed other impacts resulting from violence, including staff satisfaction and productivity, staff retention and recruitment, psychological impacts, and legal and ethical concerns.
For the purposes of the study, researchers used the World Health Organization’s definition of violence: “intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation.” More information about the methodology is available here.
Here are three numbers that illustrate the burden of violence to hospitals, according to the report, which is available in full here.
1. The AHA estimates the total annual financial cost of violence to hospitals in 2023 to be $18.27 billion.
2. The $18.27 billion estimate includes pre-event costs ($3.62 billion) and included costs for training, security and staffing, policy and procedure development, outreach to build public trust, facility modifications to prevent and mitigate harm, and technology investments to monitor events.
3. The $18.27 billion estimate also includes post-event costs ($14.65 billion) and included costs for healthcare, staffing, replacement and repair of infrastructure and equipment, legal costs, and community and public relations costs. The AHA said post-event healthcare expenses to treat violent injuries was the largest contributor to the total annual financial cost of violence to hospitals.
The report comes after lawmakers introduced legislation in May that would set federal criminal penalties for assaulting hospital employees.
“It is an unacceptable reality that those who dedicate their lives to healing should face the threat of violence,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a news release. “We know the enormous human and emotional toll violence takes on our communities and caregivers.
“This report goes beyond that to break down the significant related financial costs incurred upon hospitals and health systems. With the increase in violent events within clinical settings across the country, the resources needed to protect hospital workers and care for victims has grown exponentially. Every member of the health care team bears an enormous risk and burden of this violence. This report is yet another reminder we must do more to protect them.”
