GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO. – Feb. 21, 2023 – Today, Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) released Addressing Violence in Colorado Hospitals – a look at the current trends of workplace violence in hospitals and health systems across the state. Colorado and national trends show that violence against health care workers is on the rise:

• Health care workers are 5x more likely to be injured due to violence on the job compared to other workers.
• A nurse is assaulted every 30 minutes, on average.
• In just one month, 90 percent of health care workers experienced or witnessed violence.

Colorado’s hospitals take proactive steps to prioritize employee and patient safety every day, with focused violence prevention programs, employee education, signage, and easy incident reporting. CHA and its member hospitals and health systems call on Coloradans to create a #CultureofCARE and bring their best to the hospital by treating health care workers with kindness and respect.

“The people who dedicate their lives to taking care of us when we’re hurt, when we’re sick, when we’re at our most vulnerable – these are the people being assaulted. It’s just wrong,” said Joshua Ewing, CHA vice president of government affairs. “Inaction is not an option. We will continue to support our hospitals and health systems here in Colorado, and we will not stop pushing for greater awareness and support for our health care workers.”

About Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. Learn more at www.cha.com.

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