Colorado Takes Action to Protect Healthcare Workers with SB25-166

On April 26, 2025, the Colorado House of Representatives officially passed SB25-166 — a significant bill designed to better protect healthcare workers from workplace violence. Now headed to Governor Jared Polis for signature, this legislation signals a strong step forward in ensuring safer environments for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.

SB25-166 focuses on two major initiatives:

• Introducing a Workplace Violence Performance Metric to Colorado’s existing Hospital Quality Incentive Payment (HQIP) program.
• Empowering the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to collaborate with stakeholders on broader strategies to prevent workplace violence.

Why This Matters

Healthcare workers experience some of the highest rates of workplace violence across all industries. According to national data, healthcare workers are five times more likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers in other fields. In Colorado, as in many other states, hospitals, clinics, and care facilities have seen increasing incidents of assaults, threats, and intimidation targeting staff.

SB25-166 recognizes that workplace violence affects the health and well-being of healthcare professionals and impacts patient care, staff retention, and hospital operational costs. By incorporating violence prevention into the HQIP program, which incentivizes hospitals to meet quality improvement targets, Colorado formally ties safety to performance and funding, giving healthcare facilities a tangible reason to prioritize protective measures.

The Road Ahead

Once signed into law, Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing will consult with frontline healthcare workers, hospital leadership, safety experts, and other stakeholders to develop practical, actionable strategies for reducing workplace violence. This collaborative approach ensures that the solutions aren’t just top-down policies but are informed by the most directly impacted people.

How 911Cellular Supports Healthcare Safety

At 911Cellular, we believe that every healthcare professional deserves to feel safe at work. Our safety technology — including mobile panic buttons, mass notification systems and incident management solutions — empowers healthcare organizations to protect staff and respond effectively when emergencies arise proactively.

With legislation like SB25-166 setting the tone for workplace violence prevention, now is the time for healthcare organizations to reexamine their safety infrastructure. Whether ensuring instant access to help during an incident or improving communication facility-wide, technology plays a crucial role in meeting new safety expectations.

If you’re ready to enhance your organization’s safety measures, we’re here to help. Contact 911Cellular today!

Tags: Hospital safety Healthcare legislation Workplace violence