Senate hears testimony on H.259 to expand workplace-violence prevention for hospital staff

The Senate Health & Welfare Committee on April 3 heard more than an hour of testimony on H.259, legislation “relating to preventing workplace violence in hospitals” that would require health-care organizations to create and implement workplace-violence prevention programs with frontline staff representation and specified training and reporting.

The bill’s backers told senators the measure is aimed at protecting caregivers, retaining nurses and other direct‑care staff, and preserving care access as hospitals confront growing volumes and workforce shortages.

Liz Kudo, an emergency nurse with 16 years of experience, described multiple incidents she said illustrate the everyday risk faced by emergency‑department staff, including verbal threats, an incident in which a patient pulled a gun and threatened her family, and other assaults. Kudo said Vermont leads the nation in days away from work due to workplace violence and that reporting of incidents remains low. “This isn’t something that I signed…