More than 40 professional organizations reached consensus on a comprehensive public health and medical approach to address the issue of firearm injury in the U.S.
- Recognize firearm injury as a U.S. public health crisis; address it through a comprehensive public health and medical approach
- Research this public health crisis using a disease model, call for research funding at federal and philanthropic levels commensurate with the burden of the disease on society
- Engage firearm owners and communities at risk as stakeholders to develop firearm injury programs
- Empower the medical community across all health care settings to act in the best interests of their patients in a variety of palpable ways: counsel patients on safe firearm storage; screen patients at risk for firearm injury or death; and engage the community in addressing the social determinants of disease through hospitals and healthcare systems
- Commit professional stakeholder organizations to ensure that these statements lead to constructive actions for improving the health and well-being of our nation
This approach is based on the following consensus statements that more than 40 supporting organizations support:
- Firearm injury in the United States is a public health crisis.
- A comprehensive public health and medical approach is required to reduce death and disability from firearm injury.
- Research is needed to better understand the root causes of violence, identify people at risk, and determine the most effective strategies for firearm injury prevention.
- Federal and philanthropic research funding must be provided to match the burden of disease.
- Engaging firearm owners and populations at risk is critical in developing programs and policies for firearm injury prevention.
- Health care providers should be encouraged to counsel patients and families regarding firearm safety and safe storage. Educational and research efforts are needed to support appropriate culturally competent messaging.
- Screening for the risk of depression, suicide, intimate partner violence, and interpersonal violence should be conducted across all health care settings and in certain high-risk populations (such as those with dementia). Comprehensive resources and interventions are needed to support patients and families identified as high risk for firearm injury, who have access to a firearm.
- Hospitals and health care systems must genuinely engage the community in addressing the social determinants of disease, which contribute to structural violence in underserved communities.
- Our professional organizations commit to working together and continuing to meet in order to ensure these statements lead to constructive actions which improve the health and well-being of our fellow Americans.
Proceedings published online 5/19/19
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
