Question: We recently worked with a hospital that was dealing with a real threat of a potential shooter coming and so “locked down” its campus.  In the past year, we have worked with hospitals regarding the use of tasers in their facility, particularly the ED; the use of metal detectors and wand screenings of visitors to the hospital’s behavioral health unit (the patients are already searched); disruptive inpatients who may need to be expelled by the hospital for staff safety; and prohibiting certain individuals from coming to the hospital for fear of potential abuse, physical and/or verbal, of hospital staff and employees.  What the heck is going on?

Answer: Security and safety concerns are getting increasing attention from hospitals.  Unfortunately, hospital campuses and buildings can be scenes of violence, and it is prudent to be prepared.  Hospital buildings are necessarily open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and often have multiple entrances to the main and other buildings.  How can patients, visitors and staff best be protected?

Working with counsel, a hospital management team should assess the risks, review available data and develop (or revisit) policies.  You may find that it would be good to provide more training to security and staff, in general, as to how to deal with violent situations.  Work through communications and operations plans for a geographically limited incident (e.g., a violent individual in the ED) to one that affects the entire campus (e.g., a potential shooter).  And work with the police in advance as to how and when the hospital should get them involved.

This is not going to get any better.  Let’s be prepared with the right policies, staff, training and communication protocols.