Ten Minnesota hospital systems denounce gun violence as public health crisis, call for solutions

Hennepin Healthcare, which operates one of three urban trauma centers in the Twin Cities, has tracked a 50% increase since 2020 in penetrating trauma injuries that include gunshot wounds. Responses have included a Next Step outreach program to try to prevent violent injuries from prompting retaliatory assaults, but chief executive Jennifer DeCubellis said more preventive solutions are needed.

“As health systems we’re in the business of saving lives and this is a place where we’re seeing the numbers increase and we’re alarmed and we can make a difference,” she said.