Who: Kansas Hospital Association and Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
What: Panel discussion and media briefing on protecting Kansas healthcare workers from increasing violence in the workplace
(Unedited discussion video attached-media outlets have full permission to use)
Where: Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
When: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Panelists: Alan Verrill, MD, CEO for AdventHealth South Overland Park
Elijah Thompson, Director of Physical Security, Saint Luke’s Health System
Heidi Boehm, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CPPA, Program Manager for Enterprise Initiatives, The University of Kansas Health System
Ed Klumpp, The Chiefs of Police Association, The Kansas Peace Officers Association, The Kansas Association of Sheriffs
Kristi McGowin, Senior Director Emergency Services, Children’s Mercy
Moderator, Tom Robinett, Former Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Background: Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, the healthcare field has experienced an increase in workplace violence. The pandemic has placed significant stress on the entire healthcare system, and in some situations, patients, visitors and family members have attacked healthcare staff and jeopardized the workforce’s ability to provide care. Hospitals, health systems and their employees have expressed a strong interest in the enactment of laws to protect healthcare workers from violence and intimidation, just as current federal law protects airline and airport workers.
Media Contacts: Jill Chadwick, The University of Kansas Health System, 913-223-3974
Cindy Samuelson, Kansas Hospital Association, 785-249-1727
