Assault on Psych Doctor Spurs Call for California Health System to Boost Safety | KQED

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who co-sponsored the legislation, told KQED in a statement that the city is moving aggressively to staff up its essential health care workers. “But we won’t be able to expand our workforce if the health care system isn’t safe,” he said. “Health care workers who keep us safe and healthy deserve safety in their workplace, too.”

He added “That starts with OSHA enforcement of reporting and tracking of assaults within our hospital network. Transparency and accountability are key.”

Golomb, for her part, told KQED that she felt heartened to know about the supervisors’ resolution.

“We’re simply asking for respect and dignity from [Sutter Health], and we haven’t really seen that,” she said. “We’ve been negotiating for our contract for months now, and they continuously refuse to put language in the contract about 24/7 security on our inpatient psych unit.”

Sutter Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Golomb and about 15 of her resident colleagues announced in January their plans to unionize and have been negotiating a first contract with the hospital system.

They have asked CPMC to increase its safety measures, pressing for a round-the-clock security presence in the inpatient psych unit and an intensive care unit.

Sutter Health has said it is committed to a fair contract and safe work environments.

The hospital said it has spent nearly $40 million to improve security for the unit where Golomb was attacked, purchasing cameras, panic buttons and duress alarms, and securing doors. A security officer is now stationed there during the day.