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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 6, 2018 11:54 AM
From:	Representative Pam Snyder
To:	All House members
Subject:	Photo Identification in Health Care Facilities

From 2002 to 2013, incidents of serious workplace violence were on average four times more likely in health care settings than in private industry. Oftentimes, the largest sources of violence towards health care workers are patients and other clients or customers. In today’s modern age, personal information about a health care worker, such as their photo and first and last name on an identification badge, can easily assist an ill-intentioned person in committing physical assault or other threatening behavior. Unfortunately, this has been the experience for several health care professionals in Pennsylvania due to current requirements in state law regarding photo identification badges in health care facilities. Though well-meaning, these requirements have enabled patients to stalk, threaten, and otherwise harass health care workers both inside and outside the workplace. As such, I urge you to support my legislative proposal which would omit health care workers’ last names from their facility identification badges to help prevent these dangerous incidents. Please join me in this proactive approach to ensuring the safety and welfare of some of our Commonwealth’s most needed and respected professionals. Thank you for your consideration.

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