Keeping your Dental Team Members Safe
Threats of violence against workers across the entire healthcare landscape are on the rise. An ADA review of BLS data found that “while healthcare workers make up 10% of the workforce, they experience 48% of nonfatal injuries caused by workplace violence.”
Last year, the VDA successfully supported House Bill 1835, signed into law by Governor Youngkin, which makes any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to a healthcare provider while on the premises of any facility rendering healthcare guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Dentists and their team members should know the following:
Any person who orally makes a threat to kill or to do bodily injury to any health care provider as defined in § 8.01-581.1 who is engaged in the performance of his duties while on the premises of any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.01-581.1, unless the health care provider is on the premises any facility rendering health care as defined in § 8.1-581.1 or emergency medical care as a result of an emergency custody order pursuant to § 37.2-808, involuntary temporary detention order pursuant to § 37.2-809, involuntary hospitalization order pursuant to § 37.2-817, or emergency custody order of a conditionally released acquittee pursuant to § 19.2-182.9, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
A prosecution pursuant to this section may be either the county, city, or town in which the communication was made or received.
If a Virginia dentist or team member receives a threat that meets the definitions in House Bill 1835, they should immediately alert authorities.
Calling "911" is specifically used for emergencies (police, fire, EMS) where an immediate response is required from emergency personnel.
Complaints may also be submitted:
(1) In writing, or on a form provided by DCJS, signed by the complainant;
(2) In writing, submitted anonymously, providing sufficient detailed information for DCJS to conduct an investigation; or
(3) Via telephone, providing the complaint alleges activities which constitute a life-threatening situation, or have resulted in personal injury/loss to the public or to a consumer, or which may result in imminent harm or personal injury, and that provides sufficient detailed information for DCJS to conduct an investigation.
You can find your local Virginia law enforcement agency here: https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/law-enforcement/programs/criminal-justice-directory
The American Dental Association also offers a resource on keeping team members safe, de-escalating encounters with aggressive patients, and establishing an OSHA-required action plan for workplace emergencies such as workplace violence, available here: https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2024/july/keeping-your-team-safe-how-to-de-escalate-encounters-with-aggressive-patients
