United Health Services (UHS) announced its Respect and Heal Initiative to present a united front in creating a safe workplace that supports healthcare employees. UHS was joined by Broome County District Attorney F. Paul Battisti, as well as local and state law enforcement agencies at this week's press conference. (Submitted photo)

BINGHAMTON– UHS announced their Respect and Heal Initiative to present a united front in creating a safe workplace that supports healthcare employees.

UHS is proud to stand with our frontline staff members to ensure every hospital and clinical space is a safe space of respect and healing.

Healthcare employees have increasingly been subjected to incidents of disruption and violence in hospital settings. UHS is working to curb such incidents to protect employee and patient safety and ensure hospitals and clinical spaces are a place of care and healing.

“Healthcare workers provide exceptional care to patients each day,” said John M. Carrigg, UHS president and chief executive officer. “We believe our most important job is to protect the safety and security of our staff members. UHS is proud to stand with Respect and Heal as we continue making sure all healthcare settings are a place of healing and respect for employees, patients and visitors.”

In recent years, UHS instituted many practices and safety standards to support staff members and patients seeking care including security screenings, visitor and patient check-ins and protocols to support staff members after a security incident. These steps put UHS at the forefront of employee and patient safety in our community. In coordination with local, county, state and federal officials and law enforcement agencies, UHS is building key partnerships to build an environment that prioritizes respect and healing.

“As healthcare leaders, we have a duty to protect our frontline staff members,” said Peggy Thomas, MSN, RN, CENP, vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer, UHS Hospitals. “The Respect and Heal campaign highlights leading practices and collaborative relationships to ensure we are developing measures that put safety at the core of everything we do.”

UHS will continue enhancing its protocols and standards to continue prioritizing respect and safety in all UHS facilities. To learn more about the work UHS has completed, please visit nyuhs.org.

United Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and healthcare system serving Greater Binghamton and surrounding counties. Founded in 1981, UHS provides a full range of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and long-term care services throughout New York’s Southern Tier. United Health Services, Inc. and the members of the UHS System neither are affiliated with, sponsored, endorsed nor approved by, nor otherwise associated with, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), UHS of Delaware, Inc. nor their affiliates.

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- Information from UHS