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. 

Safer replacements will be installed, keeping with the Franciscan standard, per the statement. 

Healthcare and social services report the highest rates of nonfatal workplace injuries across all sectors — surpassing both manufacturing and construction by well over 100,000 incidents. As patient violence rises, individual health systems and states have taken various actions to protect their workers, from Rhode Island Hospital’s anti-violence campaign to the Connecticut Hospital Association’s code of conduct for patients and families. 

The issue has even made its way to Capitol Hill. The bipartisan Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Sept. 12, and — if passed — will make it a federal crime to knowingly assault hospital workers. 

Removing the crucifixes was not Hospital Sisters’ first line of defense, according to the news release. All employees are given “Management of Aggressive Behaviors” training, and direct care workers go through additional intensive training to learn de-escalation skills. The system also has active shooter trainings, silent alarms, 24/7 surveillance, emergency phones, and security and law enforcement presence. 

“St. John’s Hospital strives to be a safe, healing environment for patients and colleagues, and aggression is not tolerated,” the health system said, referring to one of its hospitals. “HSHS thanks the community for its ongoing support of their local health care workers.”