OR SB537

Health care employers (ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals, home health agencies, home hospice programs) must develop workplace violence prevention programs in consultation with safety committees, conduct periodic security assessments, and provide annual training to employees and contracted security personnel on topics including de-escalation techniques, self-defense, and active shooter response

Employers must provide written copies of violence prevention plans to employees within 30 days of hire, conduct annual program reviews, and the Department of Consumer and Business Services must submit consolidated annual reports to the legislature by December 31 each year on workplace violence incidents

Hospitals, home health agencies, and home hospice programs must implement electronic health record flagging systems to alert providers about patients with histories of violent or disruptive behavior, with protocols for bias prevention training and patient rights to request flag removal

Newly constructed or renovated hospital emergency departments must install bullet-resistant barriers at intake windows, and workers in hospitals, home health agencies, and home hospice programs are not required to display their last name on identification badges unless they request it

Home health care entities must collect safety risk information during client intake (including pets, pest infestations, weapons), provide quarterly safety assessments, and allow staff to be accompanied by escorts when security concerns exist; $394,554 appropriated to the Oregon Health Authority for compliance enforcement