Depend on security professionals when planning
Hospitals should consult with a certified healthcare security expert in developing a program aimed at deterring shootings or other violence in the facility, says Bryan Warren, CHPA, president of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) and senior manager for corporate security at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, NC.
There is more interest in security among healthcare providers due to recent high profile shootings in hospitals and other public places, Warren says. Organizations such as IAHSS can provide best practices and important protocols when a facility is developing its healthcare security plan, he says.
The recent report by Gabe Kelen, MD, director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, regarding hospital shootings is evidence of the increased focus on security, Warren says. The report should have recommended the use of security experts specifically trained for the healthcare arena, he says. Such a security expert can help carry out a risk assessment of a facility and can pinpoint specific details such as the demographics of the hospital location, economic condition, incidents occurring throughout the community, and proficiency of current security team, from which a plan can be further developed, Warren says.
After completion of the due diligence phase, clear guidelines should be analyzed and implemented for specific issues such as whether to arm the security staff. Such guidelines would encompass questions such as what type of holster is being used for the firearm (providing a low or high level of weapon retention capability) and the make and model of the firearms being considered.
"These minor details need to be taken into account when considering whether to arm a security team because there are certain safety features of some handguns, for example, that may provide added protection to the security team, hospital staff, and patients in the event that the weapon falls into the wrong hands," Warren says. "Once these policies are in place, it is essential they become the framework around which hospital security officer training evolves."
Warren notes that the Johns Hopkins report did not speak to the training and professionalism of a security force, which he says is central to operating an effective security operation at any facility. According to Warren, it is critical that security and police staff have education and training on a routine basis, especially on firearms and weapons retention. "Unfortunately, this still does not exist in most facilities," he says. "There needs to be more emphasis on training for those responsible for healthcare security duties."
Workplace violence education and training for a hospital's clinical and ancillary staff also are necessary, Warren says.
"Better preparedness for an emergency event is crucial. Staff should be taught warning signs, who to call, when to call, and so on," Warren says. "Preparation is key to managing any crisis, and it should be an all-hazards approach."
Hospitals should consult with a certified healthcare security expert in developing a program aimed at deterring shootings or other violence in the facility, says Bryan Warren, CHPA, president of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) and senior manager for corporate security at Carolinas Healthcare System in Charlotte, NC.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content