Healthcare facilities cannot effectively prevent or manage violent patient/visitor assaults on staff

Health workers face escalating physical violence with assault rates doubling over a decade, creating unsafe working conditions that current security and de-escalation systems fail to prevent. Hospitals and clinics lack adequate tools, protocols, and support systems to protect staff from aggressive patients and visitors, leading to staff injuries, trauma, burnout, and retention crises. Existing security measures are reactive rather than predictive, leaving workers vulnerable during high-risk situations.