| Since the last two breaking news briefs that we posted for you, there have been at least three other incidents that have made recent headlines. Last week two newsworthy instances occurred one of which happened in New York where a Security officer was assaulted and a city ambulance was stolen from outside the emergency room of a hospital. Fortunately, the suspect was apprehended and the ambulance was recovered by police. The other incident happened in Wisconsin where a mother, who had recently given birth, was attacked by a visitor while her newborn was in the room. Reports indicate that the new mother requested no visitors and advised hospital staff that there could be trouble. Apparently the alleged attacker provided a false name and asked to visit a person in a different room. The new mother suffered a swollen jaw and a bloody nose. During the week prior to these two incidents, a 33-year old woman was sexually assaulted in a public restroom at a Florida hospital. The suspect had been released from prison this past June. According to news reports, she unlocked the restroom door and the suspect entered and attacked her. The hospital has already instituted changes in security measures. Maybe now is the time to be proactive by updating your security assessment to help identify and mitigate risk before incidents such as these occur at your facility. Keep in mind that since story such as these are making the headlines, regulatory agencies might be more diligent regarding security incidents involving Workplace Violence. |
| It was recently reported that a hospital conducting an unannounced "terrorism training exercise". Apparently what happens in Nevada does not always stay in Nevada. Back at the end of this past May the hospital's Head's of Security, Emergency Management and the Environment of Care Committee elected to hold this drill without informing key personnel regarding the drill. It appears that in the past drill critiques indicated that the events were not realistic enough so the trio (with the best of intentions) decided to hold one that included an off duty police officer with a real (unloaded) gun as the role of the gunman. He went into the ICU unit and proceeded to direct staff at gunpoint to a break room. About five minutes into the drill the “gunmen” advised staff that it was a drill apparently, they were still not allowed to leave the break room for approximately ten more minutes. According to reports filed critically ill patients were left unattended for the fifteen minute span. Staff was in real fear for their lives and some employees broke into tears. Now according to a 15-page report from The Bureau of Health and Quality Compliance based on a reported compliant the facility must submit and Plan of Correction (POC) that must relate to the care of all patients to prevent such occurrences in the future. There were also several findings including that the facility “failed to carry out a comprehensive plan for emergency preparedness by failing to have a policy or procedure in place to plan, coordinate and conduct emergency and armed terrorist hostage drills at the facility to ensure the safety of the nursing units and provide for uninterrupted patient care and supervision”. As a result of this drill the Head of Security was terminated and the other two were reportedly suspended and removed from their positions. Even though this may have been well-intended to serve as a realistic situation, not advising or including senior leaders is usually not the best of ideas. |
| Just slightly over a week ago an Ohio nurse was stabbed by a patient with a pen. She allegedly was attacked by the patient when she was attending to him and reportedly received about six (6) puncture wounds not limited to but including the face, neck and shoulder. According to reports she screamed for help and was then taken along with the patient to the Emergency Department at the hospital. During the patients time in the Emergency Room he was watched by security and another incident soon ensued. This time the patient supposedly tossed a blanket on the security officer’s head and reportedly punched and bit him all before he was ultimately transported to jail. |
| On June 3, 2010, The Joint Commission issued Sentinel Event Alert #45 - Preventing violence in the health care setting. While violence in the health care setting is not new, the instances of workplace violence have increased. Many of the occurrences involve patients or the family of patients, but some relate directly back to employees or their spouses. Safety Management Services (SMS) is interested in helping health care facilities by providing information to assist in the development of an appropriate workplace violence plan for you facility. We have included links to some information provided by Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) osha3148 (pdf) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2002-101/. We will also feature an article regarding security issues and health care workplace violence in an upcoming issue of Managing the Healthcare Environment. |