Violence against healthcare workers at St. Joe’s highlighted through new exhibit

Violence against healthcare workers at St. Joe's highlighted through new exhibit

St. Joe's has launched a provocative public awareness campaign drawing attention to increasing violence against healthcare workers. Today, hospital leaders and elected officials came together to open a new exhibit inspired by disturbing real-life stories of workplace violence at St. Joe's.

Four St. Joe's healthcare workers will be assaulted on the job today. Violence against healthcare workers continues to rise across the country. St. Joe's approach, which includes a public awareness campaign, government advocacy and actions within the hospital, is meant to call attention to the reality of healthcare violence and embolden everyone to work together to keep our care providers safe.

"Physical, verbal, sexual and racial violence happens to our healthcare workers every single day. And it's not okay," said Dr. Mike Heenan, president and CEO, St. Joseph's Health System. "In many workplaces, violence is a rare occurrence. But for healthcare workers, it is often a daily reality. We don't put up with violence at coffee shops, on the road, at the gym or in the office. We shouldn't in healthcare either."

Violence reporting at St. Joe's has increased by nearly 30 per cent in the last year. Some healthcare workers experience violence from patients nearly every single shift. This behaviour is unheard of in most workplaces but has become a daily reality for healthcare providers at St. Joe's and other healthcare organizations across the country. Everyone deserves a safe place to work and St. Joe's is committed to working with staff, patients, visitors, government and our community to provide that.

Interviews are available with:

• Mike Heenan, president and CEO, St. Joseph's Health System
• Carrie Fletcher, executive vice president people, culture and strategy and chief administration officer, St. Joseph's Health System

Visual assets: Please find b-roll and photos of the exhibit for your use here.

The exhibit will be displayed at St. Joe's Charlton campus for approximately two weeks before relocating to West 5th and King Street sites. We encourage patients and visitors to view the exhibit when they are at the hospital.

More information, including real stories from St. Joe's healthcare workers about the impact of workplace violence, can be found at stjoes.ca/violenceprevention