As Threats Rise, Pierce County Recognizes Health Care Workers

TACOMA, WA — Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals have worked tirelessly over the past year and a half combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. But while they were once hailed as heroes, many hospitals across the nation are now reporting a rise in threats against health care workers coming from angry patients, many of them upset over COVID safety rules designed to contain the virus' spread.

One hospital in Missouri started giving out hundreds of panic buttons to nurses and other employees after assaults on health care workers tripled between 2019 and 2020, the Associated Press reported. Others have had to seal doors to keep angry patients out, and many health care workers have reported feeling unsafe in public in medical attire, fearing they might be accosted by angry community members.

“A year ago, we’re health care heroes and everybody’s clapping for us,” Dr. Stu Coffman, a Dallas-based emergency room physician told the AP. “And now we’re being in some areas harassed and disbelieved and ridiculed for what we’re trying to do, which is just depressing and frustrating.”

However, there have been few reports of similar unrest in Washington, and the Pierce County Council is hoping to keep it that way. Instead, the council is asking residents to take some time to recognize the sacrifice that local health care workers have made to keep their community safe over the past 15 months.

At their Tuesday night meeting, all seven members of the Pierce County Council unanimously passed Resolution No. R2021-172, proclaiming October 2021 as “Healthcare Heroes Month” within the county.

"[T]he mental health of healthcare workers is suffering as an overwhelming majority of people hospitalized and dying from COVID-19 are not vaccinated, although many of these deaths were preventable with the vaccine," the council's proclamation reads. "[T]he responsibility, dedication, and fortitude of these devoted individuals to continue administering services in the face of danger and uncertainty serves as an inspiration to all."

The resolution ends by urging Pierce County residents to "offer their heartfelt gratitude through messages, letters, cards, donations and support to our healthcare professionals for their commitment and sacrifice to continue caring for the sick during this difficult time."

One way residents can do just that is through South Sound Heroes, a partnership between Pierce County, several local cities and chambers of commerce that invests in the health and well-being of local health care workers. The group has set a goal of raising $100,000 to help feed local front line health care workers, but is also raising donations for an employee wellness fund to support healthcare workers personally impacted by the pandemic.

>> Learn more about their mission by visiting their website at southsoundheroes.org.