Today, with the tragic shooting at Northside Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, we are again reminded that our nation’s hospitals are not immune from the national epidemic of gun violence.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and loved ones of this terrible attack and offer our support to our colleagues at Northside Hospital Midtown, their families, and the community.
Gun violence is not only a matter of public safety but also an urgent public health crisis. ASHP supports a vision of pharmacy that improves the health and well-being of our professional colleagues, neighbors, our communities, and the nation. We believe that pharmacy professionals and all healthcare workers deserve workplaces that are safe and free from violence, harassment, bullying, and intimidation.
We urge healthcare leaders and policymakers to engage the pharmacy workforce in public health and medical approaches to violence prevention and response, including leadership roles in their communities and workplaces.
ASHP policies 2017, Role of the Pharmacy Workforce in Preventing Accidental and Intentional Firearm Injury and Death, and 2035, Role of the Pharmacy Workforce in Violence Prevention, advocate for the active involvement of pharmacists and technicians in violence prevention strategies.
We will continue to support the profession and work with our healthcare colleagues to counter the societal and public health impact of violence.
