Preventing Hospital Violence: A Guide
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A new guide covers readiness and response to violent incidents in medical facilities.
Violence at hospitals is a common phenomenon. Hospital environments are naturally full of tension, with a high potential for violent incidents; Whether angry family members trying to get back at staff members or disgruntled employees taking out their frustrations on others. The solution: thorough preparations.
These are some of the conclusions experts arrived at during a recent conference held in Las Vegas, hosted by the International Association of Healthcare Safety and Security.
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
A few of the main points covered by experts at the conference, applicable to every hospital and medical facility around the world:
- A comprehensive reporting mechanism. Every staff member has to be ready to immediately report any danger, threat or potential for violent incidents – no matter how small the scale. “When a worker witnesses strage behavior or threats,” said association president Marylin Hollier, “he has to immediately report it without hesitation. The decision whether its a minor or significant threat is not his to make. That decision rests in the hands of the supervisers, hospital security officers or the police. They’ll get the report and make contact with the people making the threats.”
- The University of Michigan uses several safety measure in hospitals, such as a special code used by staff members to immediately call security to an incident location and prevent or mitigate incidents.
- Hospital management has a list of potentially problematic patients, staff members or visitors.
- Establish predetermined escape routes in case of a threat against staff or patients, in addition to establishing “safe rooms” where staff can take shelter when in danger.
- Employees hiding in safe rooms will remain completely silent, turn off their cellular phones and holding objects that might be used for self defense.
- Technology: installing defense systems throughout the facility, especially electronic alert systems and access control systems that limit access to specific areas and rooms.
- Personnel should prepare for worst case scenarios – especially severe incidents that will reqire security forces to open fire on attackers.
Source: Government Security News
