A new state law takes effect in October that requires armed law enforcement officers to be present in North Carolina hospital emergency departments.
Passed last year with bipartisan approval, the law aims to enhance the safety of patients, staff, and visitors amid growing concerns about violence in healthcare settings. “Protect Healthcare Workers from Violence” is a section of House Bill 125 that starts October 1 with an annual report due to DHHS from hospitals beginning one year later.
According to a January 2024 poll from the American College of Emergency Physicians, 91% of emergency physicians said that they, or a colleague, were a victim of violence in the past year. In a 2022 ACEP survey, 85% of emergency physicians said they believe the rate of violence experienced in emergency departments has increased over the past five years…