CONAWAY BILL TO ENSURE SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES SIGNED INTO LAW

CONAWAY BILL TO ENSURE SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE FACILITY EMPLOYEES SIGNED INTO LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Herb Conaway, MD, sponsored to improve safety conditions for employees at New Jersey's health care facilities was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

"Many health care workers knowingly put themselves in potentially dangerous situations because of their dedication to their jobs and to their patients," said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden), a practicing physician.  "Safeguards are needed to help ensure that instances of violence do not distract health care workers from their key mission of providing patient care."

The "Violence Prevention in Health Care Facilities Act" (A-3027/S-1761) will establish programs to protect health care workers from physical assault or threatening situations.  The programs will be created mutually by the state Department of Health and Senior Services, psychiatric hospitals, developmental centers, and health-care service firms regulated by the Division of Consumer Affairs. 

The new law also will improve methods and regulations for incident record keeping, violence identification, and a post-incident response system, replete with an in-house crisis response team and counseling.  Health care facilities would be prevented from retaliating against any health care worker for reporting an incident.

The measure also was sponsored by Assembly members Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson), Joan Voss (D-Bergen), and Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex).

This new law takes effect immediately.

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