Catholic Hospital System Removes “Metal And Wooden Crucifixes” So That They Can’t Be Used To Beat Staff

Becker’s Hospital Review reports:

Hospital Sisters Health System, a Catholic organization based in Springfield, Ill., is removing all wooden and metal crucifixes from its hospitals’ emergency departments and patient rooms.

That decision is a response to “the changing healthcare landscape and the general increase in healthcare workers experiencing workplace violence,” according to a Nov. 21 statement the health system shared with Becker’s. The health system has yet to respond to an inquiry about whether a specific event triggered the change.

Safer replacements will be installed, keeping with the Franciscan standard, per the statement. The health system did not provide further detail about the replacements, including whether they will be physical crucifixes or representations of crucifixes.

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