Hospitals in Baton Rouge, La., have seen a string of violence against healthcare workers in recent months, raising concerns about workplace safety, reports The Advocate.
In April, a 56-year-old nurse died from injuries linked to a patient attack at Baton Rouge (La.) General Medical Center's Mid City campus. On May 30, police arrested a patient for allegedly punching an emergency room physician in the face and knocking him out at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. The suspect told police he punched the physician "because he felt like it," according to The Advocate.
This incident comes about two weeks after another patient was arrested for allegedly slapping an emergency room employee at the same hospital. A behavioral health patient at the hospital was also arrested May 15 for allegedly attacking another patient and two hospital employees.
The violence has spurred many workplace safety advocates to call for changes. However, some advocates contend that arresting patients, especially those with mental health issues, is not beneficial. They say healthcare facilities need to take a more proactive approach to address workplace safety by boosting staffing levels and creating individual patient care plans.
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