June 9, 2025
Article: Workplace, Community Violence Costs Hospitals $18B annually: AHA
A report from the American Hospital Association (AHA) highlights hospital spending on workplace and community violence.
The report, “The Burden of Violence to U.S. Hospitals: A Comprehensive Assessment of Financial Costs and Other Impacts of Workplace and Community Violence,” was prepared for the AHA by Harborview Injury and prevention Research Center in Seattle, part of the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Three numbers that illustrate the burden of violence to hospitals:
- The AHA estimates the total annual financial cost of violence to hospitals in 2023 to be $18.27 billion.
- The $18.27 billion estimate i8ncludes pre-event costs ($3.62 billion) and included costs for:
- training security and staffing,
- policy and procedure development,
- outreach to build public trust,
- facility modifications to prevent and mitigate harm, and
- technology investments to monitor events.
- The $18.27 billion estimate also includes post-event costs ($14.65 billion) and included costs for:
- healthcare,
- staffing,
- replacement and repair of infrastructure and equipment,
- legal costs, and
- community and public relations costs.
- The AHA said post-event healthcare expenses to treat violent injuries was the largest contributor to the total annual financial cost of violence to hospitals.
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