Catholic health system to replace all crucifixes

[Stevicus]

Catholic health system to replace all crucifixes

Hospital Sisters Health System is removing all wooden and metal crucifixes from its hospitals in response to an increase in healthcare worker workplace violence

www.beckershospitalreview.com

Apparently, there's been an increase in violent patients using crucifixes as weapons. So, they're going to be replaced with something safer.

That decision is a response to "the changing healthcare landscape and the general increase in healthcare workers experiencing workplace violence," according to a Nov. 21 statement the health system shared with Becker's. The health system declined to specify if a specific event triggered the change.

Safer replacements will be installed, keeping with the Franciscan standard, per the statement.

"... [Our] facilities and supply chain services are working closely with our spiritual care leaders, have researched multiple options, and have identified several crosses that will be utilized for replacement and secured appropriately," a representative for the health system told Becker's Nov. 22. "As we are a large system with multiple facilities, a phased timing of safer replacements will be ongoing."

There is even proposed legislation before Congress to make assaulting a hospital worker a federal offense.

Healthcare and social services report the highest rates of nonfatal workplace injuries across all sectors — surpassing both manufacturing and construction by well over 100,000 incidents. As patient violence rises, individual health systems and states have taken various actions to protect their workers, from Rhode Island Hospital's anti-violence campaign to the Connecticut Hospital Association's code of conduct for patients and families.

The issue has even made its way to Capitol Hill. The bipartisan Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Sept. 12, and — if passed — will make it a federal crime to knowingly assault hospital workers.

Removing the crucifixes was not Hospital Sisters' first line of defense, according to the statement. All employees are given "Management of Aggressive Behaviors" training, and direct care workers go through additional intensive training to learn de-escalation skills. The system also has active shooter trainings, silent alarms, 24/7 surveillance, emergency phones, and security and law enforcement presence.

"We certainly don’t want to mislead anyone in thinking that we are at all moving away from our main tenets of Catholic healthcare," a representative from the health system told Becker's Nov. 22. "We continue to be a Franciscan-centered healthcare system in all policies and care delivery."

I wonder what they'll use as safer replacements.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Buddy Christ! Catholicism Wow!

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

"the changing healthcare landscape and the general increase in healthcare workers experiencing workplace violence,"​

For months now I've been working with a broad spectrum of medical support staff to successfully combat cancer. The struggle has taken me to numerous waiting rooms, labs, infusion centers, and offices. Everywhere -- everywhere -- I see notices posted insisting that all personnel deserve to be treated with respect.

I wonder what they'll use as safer replacements.

I wonder why your take-away was to mock Catholicism and ...

Buddy Christ! Catholicism Wow!

... invite comments such as ^this.

Kudos to the Catholic hospital system that prioritizes staff over symbol.

 

[Stevicus]

​

I wonder why your take-away was to mock Catholicism and ...

"Mock Catholicism"? That's an outrageous accusation. I did nothing of the sort.

I can't fathom any possible reason why you would do this.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I wonder why your take-away was to mock Catholicism and ...

How is wondering what they will use for safer replacements as symbols of their religion mocking? It appears to me that you're making assumptions about one's intent.

... invite comments such as ^this.

If you have a problem with my comment, you have a scroll button, yes?

My comment, as with many on this forum, was intended to inject levity through laughter, not to mock.

In your opinion, what motive would I have to mock Catholicism?

 

[Stevicus]

How is wondering what they will use for safer replacements as symbols of their religion mocking? It appears to me that you're making assumptions about one's intent.


If you have a problem with my comment, you have a scroll button, yes?

My comment, as with many on this forum, was intended to inject levity through laughter, not to mock.

In your opinion, what motive would I have to mock Catholicism?

The main take-away from the article (at least from my perspective) was the fact that there has been a noticeable increase in violence in hospitals and attacks on healthcare workers. I think it's an important story, and I actually agree that it should be a federal offense to knowingly attack a healthcare worker.

As a recovering former Catholic myself, my family had crucifixes all over the house. We respected that; nobody messed around with any crucifixes. So, the idea of people using a crucifix as a weapon to attack hospital staff sounded strange to me. It seems sacrilegious to me, even if I no longer practice or have any formal ties to the Catholic faith. From a purely technical standpoint, I was genuinely curious as to what might be used to replace the wooden and metal crucifixes they were using. They're going to be thinking about that question anyway, along with what other extra measures have to be taken to keep their staff safe.

 

[Vinayaka]

The main take-away from the article (at least from my perspective) was the fact that there has been a noticeable increase in violence in hospitals and attacks on healthcare workers. I think it's an important story, and I actually agree that it should be a federal offense to knowingly attack a healthcare worker.

As a recovering former Catholic myself, my family had crucifixes all over the house. We respected that; nobody messed around with any crucifixes. So, the idea of people using a crucifix as a weapon to attack hospital staff sounded strange to me. It seems sacrilegious to me, even if I no longer practice or have any formal ties to the Catholic faith. From a purely technical standpoint, I was genuinely curious as to what might be used to replace the wooden and metal crucifixes they were using. They're going to be thinking about that question anyway, along with what other extra measures have to be taken to keep their staff safe.

Drawings, or wall paintings would work, I think. Pretty hard to grab paint off a wall.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Catholic health system to replace all crucifixes

Hospital Sisters Health System is removing all wooden and metal crucifixes from its hospitals in response to an increase in healthcare worker workplace violence

www.beckershospitalreview.com

Apparently, there's been an increase in violent patients using crucifixes as weapons. So, they're going to be replaced with something safer.



There is even proposed legislation before Congress to make assaulting a hospital worker a federal offense.





I wonder what they'll use as safer replacements.

I think this is a starkly poor reflection on the current sociopolitical climate. In the last few years, I have noticed that highly partisan media outlets have increasingly been demonizing healthcare workers, medical experts, teachers, professors, and a variety of blue-collar workers (e.g., perceived "rednecks" as well as farmers and ranchers).

In my opinion, this, too, is a deterioration of "family values," and I think it should receive much more attention in the media than it is currently getting.

 

[LuisDantas]

I wonder what they'll use as safer replacements.

Perhaps some sort of projected image or even (in the future?) hologram. About as safe as it comes.

Barring that, perhaps some sort of soft plastic or rubber circle or sphere with the corresponding symbols.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In my opinion, this, too, is a deterioration of "family values," and I think it should receive much more attention in the media than it is currently getting.

We all witnessed a stark shift in attitude during the COVID outbreak under Trump. The status of healthcare workers spiraled from hero to villain almost overnight, as Fauci became a central target of the Right.

The marriage of right-wing populism and imbecilic conspiracy theories continues to be toxic and contagious.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Catholic health system to replace all crucifixes

Hospital Sisters Health System is removing all wooden and metal crucifixes from its hospitals in response to an increase in healthcare worker workplace violence

www.beckershospitalreview.com

Apparently, there's been an increase in violent patients using crucifixes as weapons. So, they're going to be replaced with something safer.



There is even proposed legislation before Congress to make assaulting a hospital worker a federal offense.





I wonder what they'll use as safer replacements.

Safety Jesus. Wonder what that will look like?

I'm guessing crosses made out of reeds will become standard.

Truth be told I've never ever seen anybody screaming down the halls like Conan the Barbarian welding a crucifix .