Altoona, Pennsylvania — Following a violent attack on a nurse at UPMC Altoona earlier this month, healthcare workers are advocating for increased safety measures within the hospital environment. The incident left emergency room nurse Travis Dunn seriously injured, prompting his colleagues and the union SEIU Healthcare PA to initiate a petition aimed at improving safety protocols across healthcare systems.
Dunn was discovered unconscious on the floor after being struck in the head by Bradley Lloyd, who now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. This incident has intensified calls across the state for UPMC and other healthcare facilities to implement strategies that would better safeguard the staff from future violence.
Kevin Clark, a registered nurse at UPMC Altoona for nearly 15 years, expressed the personal impact of the situation. “Working in the emergency room, I face similar challenges daily. This attack resonates deeply with us. We care for a growing patient population that often requires extensive services, yet we struggle with staffing shortages, which compromises care and safety,” he said.
The petition advocates for significant policy changes, including the creation of comprehensive violence prevention protocols, maintaining adequate staffing levels to avoid isolating employees in high-risk areas, and mandating de-escalation training for all staff. These measures aim to protect healthcare workers and enhance patient care standards.
Days after the attack, Dunn was discharged from the hospital and is currently recovering at home. His colleagues have voiced frustration over ongoing safety concerns, asserting that their warnings had been disregarded previously. Jaime Balsamo, another registered nurse at UPMC Altoona, stated, “We’ve been raising alarms about the risks for a long time. Now, the consequences are painfully evident.”
Dunn sustained serious injuries from the assault, including a cracked skull and a brain bleed. UPMC Altoona President Mike Corso has publicly supported Dunn through this recovery process, ensuring that he receives all appropriate workers’ compensation benefits. “Travis’s health, recovery, and well-being remain our utmost priority,” Corso affirmed.
Meanwhile, Bradley Lloyd remains incarcerated at Blair County Prison as the legal proceedings progress. The reverberations of the attack are echoed in the broader community, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes that protect healthcare workers on the front lines of patient care.