The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) announced today it would observe one minute of silence on Wednesday, October 26, from 12:00 noon to 12:01 p.m. in honor of the two employees, Jacqueline “Jackie” Pokuaa, 45, and Katie “Annette” Flowers, 63, killed at Methodist Dallas Medical Center on Saturday. The DFWHC is asking its member hospitals and community members to join in the moment of silence.

The gesture will be an opportunity for North Texans to reflect on the loss of these caregivers and healthcare heroes along with the growing rate of workplace violence in hospitals that has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is our way of offering our prayers and condolences to the two healthcare employees who tragically lost their lives as well as to their families and fellow employees,” said Stephen Love, president/CEO of DFWHC. “It’s also an opportunity to create awareness of the increasing workplace violence at our hospitals. Our healthcare workforce has been dealing with this dangerous increase for a very long time.”

Love said the moment of silence should be a time for everyone in the community to honor the lives of Pokuaa and Flowers.

“During the one-minute time frame on October 26, we would like everyone to focus on two important thoughts,” Love said. “First, offer your prayers and condolences to Jackie Pokuaa and Annette Flowers and to their families. Second, ask yourself, ‘What can we do to help stop this violence?’”