Rep. Baker's Bill Regarding Hospital Violence Prevention and Training Security Plans Passes the House

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati) today announced that House Bill (HB) 452 passed the Ohio House of Representatives on June 26th with a 73-21 vote.

“I have experienced and seen firsthand the increasing violence occurring in healthcare settings. These events have become so common that I have heard nurses and healthcare workers say things implying that experiencing violence is ‘just part of the job.’ This is unacceptable and as a state it is critical that we work to support those providing direct care to patients, which is exactly what House Bill 452 aims to do,” said Rep. Baker. 

HB 452 will:

• Require each hospital system to establish a security plan for preventing workplace violence 
• Specify various requirements for the plans, including that the plans be developed by an interdisciplinary team that includes direct care providers and that the plan is reviewed and evaluated annually.
• Require each hospital system to establish a workplace violence incident reporting system.
• Establish the ability of hospital security personnel to receive access to online security training currently available to Ohio peace officers
• Require the Department of Higher Education to survey colleges and universities that provide education and training to students seeking to become health care providers to determine whether the education and training provided to those students addresses de-escalation skills and workplace violence prevention.

HB 452 now heads to the Senate Floor.