Karen Coughlin is advocating for legislation that addresses workplace violence in healthcare facilities. She believes it need to be mandatory for these facilities to assess the threat components connected with workplace violence and produce a strategy with input from direct care employees on how to address it. This strategy need to be reevaluated annually. On top of that, there need to be reporting mechanisms in spot so that information can be collected and shared with the Division of Public Well being. At present, hospitals are reluctant to report incidents, but there need to be penalties and reporting specifications to guarantee accountability. Victims of workplace assault need to also be offered time off to address the concern if they choose to press charges. Coughlin supports legislative bills that would boost penalties for workplace assaults against healthcare workers.

Though Massachusetts does not at the moment have laws producing workplace violence against healthcare workers a felony, 32 other states do. In total, 38 states have laws addressing workplace violence against healthcare workers and nurses. Coughlin emphasizes that the presence of a measurable and enforceable workplace violence prevention system leads to enhanced good quality of care, decreased incidents of violence, and a extra comfy perform atmosphere. This, in turn, assists with employees recruitment and retention. Coughlin believes that healthcare workers need to really feel supported and have the capability to perform by way of workplace violence incidents with the help of administrators, employers, and colleagues.