An employee at CentraCare Rice Hospital in Willmar, Minn., was seriously injured after being stabbed by a patient April 1, police told local news outlets.
Police were called to the hospital's emergency department around 11:30 a.m. for assistance with a "combative patient" who had been in the hospital for an apparent mental health issue. According to police, the individual stabbed a CentraCare employee with a knife and then injured himself.
The CentraCare employee escaped to safety, while hospital security, EMS and other ED staff subdued the suspect, who police have identified as a 31-year-old-male from Willmar who they say has a history of erratic behavior.
In a statement to Becker's, St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare said it was saddened by the situation.
"At CentraCare, the safety and health of our employees, patients and visitors are our top priorities," the statement said. "Events like this are happening far too frequently at healthcare facilities around the country, and we are not immune. Our thoughts are with the employee who is recovering from their injuries as well as the staff who suffered emotional distress as a result of this incident.We are providing support teams for all involved and we will continually strive to create even safer environments for our patients, their families and all employees at CentraCare."
Police said an investigation is ongoing. The suspect was treated for his injuries before being taken into custody on pending charges of first degree assault and second degree assault.
Calls from healthcare workers for federal action to be taken on workplace violence have escalated in recent months. Late last month, the presidents of the American Nurses Association, American College of Emergency Physicians and Emergency Nurses Association urged lawmakers to pass two bills aimed at strengthening safety protections for workers in the industry — where the rate of serious injuries tied to workplace violence is six times higher compared to all other private sector employees in the U.S.