Workers are also protesting due to severe staffing shortages, which are playing a part in the increase of violence, according to the publication.
Service Employees International Union 521, the Registered Nurses Professional Association and Valley Physicians Group, all of whom represent workers at VMC, are asking for a zero-tolerance policy for patients who assault staff, higher pay and more resources.
VMC reported 40 incidents of violence last month; however, RNPA Vice President Allan Kamara, BSN, RN, told the publication he believes the number is higher.
Workers told San Jose Spotlight they have brought safety concerns to leadership at VMC but nothing has improved. They added that due to short staffing, patients have to wait longer to receive care, which leads to patients attacking staff out of frustration.
State regulators found multiple violations during an investigation in February, including failing to prevent one patient from jumping to his death from a window and another from jumping from the parking garage, and failing to investigate two sexual assault cases within the hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit. The state threatened to cut Medicare reimbursements as a result of these violations.
Santa Clara County, where the hospital is located, has started a correction plan, requiring more training for workers and new auditing systems. The county has until April 25 to remedy its violations and seek approval from regulators, or the hospital will no longer receive Medicare reimbursements for patients.