Protecting Healthcare Heroes: How Panic Button Technology Supports the Federal Save Healthcare Workers Act

In May 2025, the U.S. Senate introduced the Save Healthcare Workers Act, aiming to make it a federal crime to assault hospital employees. This legislation mirrors protections already afforded to airline and airport workers, establishing penalties of up to 10 years in prison for assaults on healthcare workers, with penalties of up to 20 years for aggravated circumstances such as the use of deadly weapons or attacks during public emergencies.

“As violence against health care workers rises, we have a duty to protect the men and women serving in hospitals and health care facilities,” said Senator Angus King (I-ME). “The bipartisan Save Healthcare Workers Act will help to combat this senseless violence and ensure it no longer goes unpunished— keeping staff safe and free from harm so they’re able to focus on patient care.”

While this act marks a significant step toward safeguarding healthcare workers, it does not mandate the implementation of panic buttons. However, integrating comprehensive panic button technology can complement the act by providing immediate support during incidents and collecting crucial evidence.

The Role of Panic Button Technology in Enhancing Safety

911Cellular offers a full range of panic button solutions including wearable, mobile, desktop, and wallmounted options— so every healthcare worker can have access to protection, no matter where they work or what role they fill.

These systems provide:

• Immediate Assistance: Staff can discreetly alert internal safety teams or emergency responders with the press of a button.
• Precise Location Identification: Real-time location data helps responders reach the right person faster.
• Audio/Video Evidence Capture: Activation can trigger live audio and video recording, providing powerful evidence to support investigations and legal action.

By giving staff confidence that their call for help will be seen, heard, and verified with undeniable evidence, panic button technology not only improves response, but also encourages more workers to report violence when it happens.

Creating a Comprehensive Safety Net

Combining legislative measures like the Save Healthcare Workers Act with proactive tools such as panic buttons establishes an essential framework for protecting healthcare workers. This dual approach ensures that while legal systems deter and penalize offenders, technological solutions provide immediate support and evidence collection.

“People need to know that it is not ok to assault healthcare workers; these are the people that are literally serving their communities, they’re caring for our family members,” said Daniel Hunnisett, Regional Sales Director at 911Cellular and Former Healthcare Security Manager. “Legislation is aimed at deterring incidents of workplace violence by ensuring there are harsher penalties for those that do commit these acts, and to hold them accountable for if they do.

“Incidents will still occur, and this is where 911Cellular can help. Our proven panic button solutions can ensure a quick, appropriate response to a caregiver that needs help; proactively when they notice escalation, and reactively if an assault does occur. We’ve purposely designed our solution with our law enforcement and security experiences in mind– to get the right help when it is needed most.”

As the healthcare industry continues to face challenges related to workplace violence, it’s imperative to adopt both policy-driven and technological strategies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people who care for our communities in their most vulnerable moments.

To learn more about how 911Cellular’s solutions can help reduce workplace violence for your healthcare system, schedule a demo with one of our experts.