New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that healthcare workers in Minnesota are being victims of workplace violence at higher rates than ever before, and many don’t believe the issue will get solved anytime soon.
According to the data, there were 630 documented instances of violence against Minnesota healthcare workers between 2021 and 2022 that resulted in time away from work. That is a staggering increase from the 200 reported instances from just a decade ago. Other findings from the report from the BLS included:
- The majority of these instances involved violence against healthcare workers from patients and visitors.
- Workers’ compensation claims from employees at private and state-run hospitals jumped to 274 in 2022, up from 178 in 2019.
- There were 450 cases of intentional injury by another party to a healthcare worker between 2021 and 2022. That’s up from 380 between 2019-2020 and from 110 a decade ago between 2011 and 2012.
- 113 nurses and 28 nursing assistants filed workers’ compensation claims in Minnesota in 2022, both of which represent the highest amount of claims by those professions in a year in Minnesota.
No End In Sight
While hospitals are working to teach employees helpful de-escalation techniques and ensure potentially dangerous patients are never treated by an individual on their own, it doesn’t seem like we can expect a big turnaround in the rate of violence against healthcare workers anytime soon. Some experts say that violence is pushing workers out of the healthcare industry, which leads to staffing shortages and longer wait times for care. This only fuels patient frustration, and if they act on this anger, it’s the healthcare workers that often suffer.
Although it appears that we’ve made it out of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages and high tensions still exist in the healthcare community. If you are assaulted or injured by a patient or a visitor while doing your job, know that you have legal options. We’ve been helping a growing number of healthcare workers get the compensation they deserve after an on-the-job injury, and we can do the same for you in your time of need.
You got into healthcare to help others, but if you end up a victim of workplace violence, now is the time to let us help you. We can help you win an injury award so that your medical bills are addressed and you are compensated for your lost wages. Don’t let an injury cause financial hardship for you and your family. Instead, connect with the team at Hey Workers and let us help you get what you are owed.
For more information, or to see if you may have a valid injury claim, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
