SC patients harm nearly 2,100 hospital workers a year. It’s not by getting them sick, report says

A fatal stabbing of a 31-year-old social worker in California underscores the findings of a report on violence against South Carolina hospital workers.

It happens. And more often than most folks know.

The South Carolina Workplace Violence Collaborative found in 2024 that 7.24 incidents by patients, family members or hospital staff per day — or 2,643 a year — were reported, almost half of which were attacks against registered nurses. About 2,100 were patients assaulting staff members.

Almost half of the attacks took place in a patient’s hospital room and 20% were in an emergency room.

The attack in California was in a hallway at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Dec. 4 when a patient stabbed the social worker five times in the neck and shoulder with a kitchen knife.

The South Carolina Collaborative stems from a partnership of the South Carolina Hospital Association and Antum Risk, a risk management company based in Columbia.

Workers in health care have long been considered at high risk for assault, both verbal and physical, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration says.

The Collaborative issued its first report in 2023.

Eighty percent of South Carolina’s 65 hospitals are participating. The health care industry employs about 85,000 people.

The report says most violence is perpetrated by patients or visitors with a legitimate relationship to the facility, which highlights the unique risks of health care during stressful situations.

This “reinforces the need for proactive deescalation training and clear protocols to manage escalating behaviors before they result in harm,” the report said.

In 2024, incidents were most often linked to behavioral health crises, cognitive impairments, and substance influence. Also of concern was overcrowding, extended wait times or emotionally charged interactions.

“From 2023 to 2024, there was an increase in the number hospitals who reported that they are tracking patients with a history of staff assault,” the report said.

Hospitals are increasingly using emergency room alerts, color-coded signage on patient doors, and team huddles.

A Workplace Violence Committee should routinely review patient “flags” to evaluate their continued appropriateness.

The collaborative suggested:

1. Enhance communication and collaboration with local law enforcement to include regular meetings and participation in hospital workplace violence training and education.

2. Continue to explore ways to improve the process and promote the reporting of all types of workplace violence incidents.

3. Ensure that outstanding items from after-action reviews are tracked to completion.

This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM.