Healthcare workers are increasingly facing threats and violence on the job, a growing crisis that has prompted Southcoast Health to bring in a new chief of police to lead efforts to protect staff and patients.

 

According to the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, every 38 minutes in a Massachusetts healthcare facility, an individual, typically a healthcare worker, is either physically assaulted, endures verbal abuse, or is threatened.

 

Last month, Southcoast Health announced the hiring of Marc Duphily as its first police chief for the Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety.

 

“Our healthcare environment is experiencing rising workplace violence in both frequency and severity,” said Craig Forcina, executive director of the Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety. “We created a Police Department to meet these evolving challenges and ensure a safer environment for everyone.”

 

The Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety operates across the Southcoast Health system, including Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

 

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