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Witnesses link rising assaults to unmet basic needs and call for full implementation of violence-prevention program
Summary
Frontline staff reported a steep increase in physical assaults over recent fiscal years and tied that trend to lack of hygiene supplies, HVAC failures, and limited therapeutic activities. Disability Rights DC and hospital psychologists urged full deployment of a contracted violence-prevention, trauma-informed program.
Frontline staff gave detailed accounts tying increased patient aggression to systemic failures in basic services and staffing. Hans Thomas cited hospital assault counts increasing from 386 (FY23) to 471 (FY24) to 600 (FY25) and said that shortages of soap, HVAC failures, and limited access to therapeutic activities were drivers of escalating incidents.
Disability Rights DC and hospital psychologists urged the committee to ensure the hospital fully implements its contracted violence-prevention consultant, saying the approach combines staff coaching, patient groups, and ongoing weekly engagement rather than a single training.
"The contract is in place; the consultant wants regular weekly engagement, and staff and patients respond well," testified Andrea Frappuccino of Disability Rights DC. Hospital leaders said the contract and a national expert (Joan Galese) exist and that teams are working with the hospital, but the committee pressed for a clear timeline and broader executive buy-in to scale the work across units.
