Virginia Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs Have Served Nearly 10,000 Patients, Saved Almost $102 Million in Healthcare Costs

News Release - Virginia Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs Have Served Nearly 10,000 Patients, Saved Almost $102 Million in Healthcare Costs

June 4, 2026

In Support of Public Health and Safety, Virginia Hospital HVIPs Have Served Nearly 10,000 Patients Since 2019, Resulting in a Dramatically Reduced Re-Injury Rate Among that Population and Almost $102 Million in Healthcare Costs Avoided

RICHMOND, VA -This month, the nation will recognize Gun Violence Awareness Day and Hospitals Against Violence Day as a time to honor survivors of gun violence and to highlight ongoing efforts to combat community and healthcare workplace violence.

Several Virginia hospitals are at the forefront of this work as sites of care that support Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) which provide trauma-informed care and an array of personalized support services to individuals who have been impacted by community and domestic violence.

HVIPs in Virginia have served 9,925 patients since 2019. Individuals who have been engaged in an HVIP program have an estimated re-injury rate of less than 3 percent. In contrast, the national re-injury rate average for individuals impacted by community violence is 40 percent. Beyond that dramatic re-injury rate reduction, Virginia HVIPs have yielded $101.8 million in healthcare cost avoidance while serving a patient population that is 60 percent Medicaid and 20 percent uninsured.

"Community and domestic violence resulting in serious injury and hospitalization is too common an occurrence in our society. These injuries can leave lasting physical and emotional scars for the people, families, and communities impacted by them," said Kelly Cannon, Chief Executive Officer of the VHHA Foundation. "That's why the interventional work done by HVIPs and their teams is so critical. The data is clear: HVIPs in Virginia make a tremendous difference in supporting safer communities and delivering life-saving care and services to patients."

With the recent addition of HVIPs at the UVA Health University Medical Center and Ballad Health's Johnston Memorial Hospital, Virginia now has 12 HVIPs at 10 health systems serving communities across the Commonwealth.

Other HVIP site locations include the Bon Secours Violence Response Team, the Violent Injury - Recovery and Support Program (VIRS) at Carilion Clinic, the Healing Opportunities Providing Empowerment (HOPE) program at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, Safer Futures at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD), the Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation (FACT) Teams, the Hand-in-Hand program at Riverside Regional Medical Center, the Foresight Violence Intervention Program at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, and Bridging the Gap and Project Empower at VCU Medical Center. Two Virginia hospital nurse leaders affiliated with HVIPs - Cassie Herman of Riverside Health and Bonnie Price of Bon Secours Mercy Health - recently won prestigious national awards for their work in this space.

Virginia HVIPs are supported by the VHHA Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA), which administers grant funding and provides consultative guidance on program operations. By building partnerships between hospitals, social services, and community organizations, HVIPs takes a public health approach to breaking cycles of violence by connecting victims with care during and after hospital treatment.

In June, HVIPs are engaging in community activities, including:

• The Riverside Health Hand-in-Hand team is collaborating with local partners to host a gun violence awareness event in Newport News on June 5 and will have a resource table at the "Stop the Violence" softball game on June 7 in Hampton.
• The Carilion VIRS team will provide an informational table near the cafeteria at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and distribute gun locks.
• Bon Secours is hosting a "Passport to Safety" community event from 4-7 p.m. on June 12 in Petersburg featuring music, speakers, vendors, a trauma therapist, and more.

About VHHA: The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association is an alliance of 117 hospitals and 26 health delivery systems that develops and advocates for sound health care policy in the Commonwealth. Its mission is to achieve excellence in both health care and health. Its vision is through the power of collaboration to be recognized as a driving force behind making Virginia the healthiest state in the nation. Connect with VHHA through Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Walker
Vice President of Communications
(804) 297-3193 office
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