All Entries Tagged With: "hospital violence"
Panic in Detroit – Panic at the Disco – Panic at the Surgery Center…Fire in the Hole!
I’m presuming (and please don’t attempt to disabuse me of this notion) that you are all dutifully conducting security risk assessments on a regular basis. As you conduct them, I’m sure you find risks of some events that are greater than some other areas. So, I to ask: When you’ve completed your security risk assessment, do you identify specific strategies, including the use of technology, for minimizing those risks to the extent possible? If you’re not including that facet in the risk assessment process, you might want to consider doing so.
Recently, I was looking at a survey report in which an ambulatory surgery center was cited during a TJC survey because they had not installed a panic alarm “at the registrar’s desk in order to obtain immediate assistance in an emergent or hostile situation.” Now, as with so many things that have been popping up during surveys, I don’t disagree with the concept of having panic alarms at those customer service/interaction points where unhappy folks (or folks of any ilk) can experience the need to vent their frustrations, etc. But in that disagreement, I think I’d first be looking at what tools have been provided to staff to actively manage, if not de-escalate, these negative encounters. I would much prefer to avoid having to use a panic alarm by appropriately managing the encounter, much like I would just as soon not “need” to have an emergency eyewash station.
I’m a great believer in the proactive management of risk, but I’m also a great believer in implementing risk management and response strategies that make operational sense. So, the question to the studio audience is: Where have you installed panic alarms and where have you not installed panic alarms, and why? There’s always the risk that some surveyor will disagree with your strategy, but if that strategy was derived through thoughtful analysis of the involved risks, does that not meet the intent of all this?
I like the concept of best practice as much as anyone, but I also recognize that there is a tremendous amount of variability in the safety landscape. Just because something works in one place does not necessarily mean that it will work in all cases—that’s the mystical, magical, and ultimately mythical power of the panacea. One size doesn’t fit all—never has, never will. But if we’re going to be held to that type of an expectation, how does that help anyone? Ok, jumping down from soapbox for now, but rest assured, you’ll see me back up here before too long.
Man accused of murder at Napa State Hospital will go to trial
In the ongoing saga at Napa State Hospital in Napa, CA, following a nurse’s murder by a patient, a judge has ruled that Jess Willard Massey will stand trial for murder.
Massey will be on trial for the murder of nurse Donna Gross on October 23. After speaking with Napa County Sheriff’s Detective Todd Hancock, Massey admitted to the killing, saying he heard voices telling him Gross was the devil, reports the Napa Valley Register.
A hearing will take place June 14. If convicted, Massey faces life in prison without possibility of parole.
California Children’s hospital fined for safety violations
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) fined Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland on February 22 for failing to offer policies and controls follow a violent, unsafe situation.
The safety violations were related to two separate incidents that occurred in the facility. In July, a homeless man took an employee hostage with a gun in the emergency room , while in October, a victim with a gunshot wound was left at the hospital entrance rather than the emergency room entrance, leaving nurses feeling unsafe, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
The total cost for the citations is $10,350 and hospital officials plan to appeal. Officials blame unresolved union negotiations for the citations.
Is the hospital right to appeal the violations? Let us know in our comment section.
Do you feel safe in your healthcare facility?
The September shooting at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore left some healthcare workers pondering the same question: Are healthcare facilities a safe place to work?
Recently, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) ran a blog post about which healthcare workers are most likely to be assaulted. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study and after looking at government statistics, found that the rate of assaults in healthcare facilities is fairly high. Nursing home staff, ICUs, emergency departments, and psych units are amongst the higher risk of assault, the WSJ reported.
Why is the assault rate so high? The study found a few different factors. Physicians are not respected as much, the healthcare industry is more seen as a business, and patients are not always happy with the healthcare system, reported the WSJ.
Is this a trend you are noticing and planning for, or do you think the study focuses too much on big cities? Do you feel safe in your facility? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
Hospital shooting prompts safety concerns for Florida hospitals
On November 4, a man walked into the cafeteria of Palm Bay (FL) Hospital and shot himself to death.
The hospital went into lock down and all employees were evacuated, according to an article on ClickOrlando.com. The man was identified as a past hospital cafeteria employee who was fired for not showing up to work. He came in and wanted to say goodbye to his fellow employees.
After gunshots were heard, the emergency room was put on lockdown. Hospital spokesperson Elliot Cohen, said the hospital was prepared for such situations. “We have security procedures in place,” Cohen said.
“We drill on this constantly. Security officers know what to do and followed policies.”
However, an article on FloridaToday.com states that there is a flaw in the security of Florida’s healthcare facilities. Cohen spoke again, pondering how realistic it is to search everyone that comes into the hospital.
A survey was done by Florida Today and found a series of security differences in Florida hospitals. Some hospitals used metal detectors and asked visitors for a badge, while other hospitals provided no details of security procedures.
According to Florida Today, The Joint Commission has data showing an increase in incidents pertaining to hospital violence. The accreditor noted 256 reports of violence since 1995, with many incidents going unreported.
What type of security procedures does your facility have when it comes to a hospital shooting or related incident? Let us know in our comment section.
