Last month, a disturbing incident unfolded within the walls of an Oregon hospital, as news rapidly circulated among its staff of a troublesome visitor wreaking havoc in the maternity ward. Nurses were promptly alerted of the potential danger that this individual posed, with concerns raised that he might attempt to abduct his partner’s precious newborn.
Tragically, mere hours after this alarming warning, chaos erupted as the visitor unleashed a barrage of gunfire, claiming the life of a valiant security guard and instigating a state of panic among patients, nurses, and doctors alike.
This harrowing incident, which unfolded at the esteemed Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive wave of gun violence that has been sweeping through hospitals and medical centers across the United States.
These institutions, already burdened with the arduous task of providing essential healthcare services, now find themselves grappling with the urgent need to adapt to the ever-growing threats that jeopardize the safety and well-being of their staff and patients.
The prevalence of workplace violence in the health care industry has reached alarming levels, rendering it one of the most violent fields in the nation.
Extensive data analysis reveals a distressing reality: health care workers in the United States endure a higher number of nonfatal injuries resulting from incidents of violence than professionals in any other occupation, including law enforcement.
This unsettling trend sheds light on the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address and mitigate the risks faced by those working tirelessly to provide essential medical care.
The safety and well-being of health care workers must be prioritized to ensure a secure environment conducive to the delivery of high-quality patient care.
Health care workers are often driven by a deep sense of compassion and a desire to help others, rarely considering the potential dangers that come with their chosen profession.
However, shocking statistics reveal that when it comes to actual violence, the health care industry surpasses all others, making it four or five times more dangerous.
These unsettling findings were highlighted by Michael D’Angelo, a highly regarded security consultant in Florida, who draws on his experience as a former police officer to shed light on the alarming issue of workplace violence in health care settings.
It is crucial to acknowledge that while other industries may surpass health care in terms of overall danger, including fatalities, the prevalence of similar shootings occurring within hospitals across the nation is a grave cause for concern.
Health care workers are often driven by a deep sense of compassion and a desire to help others, rarely considering the potential dangers that come with their chosen profession.
However, shocking statistics reveal that when it comes to actual violence, the health care industry surpasses all others, making it four or five times more dangerous. T
hese unsettling findings were highlighted by Michael D’Angelo, a highly regarded security consultant in Florida, who draws on his experience as a former police officer to shed light on the alarming issue of workplace violence in health care settings.
It is crucial to acknowledge that while other industries may surpass health care in terms of overall danger, including fatalities, the prevalence of similar shootings occurring within hospitals across the nation is a grave cause for concern.
Health care workers, driven by their profound compassion and unwavering dedication to the well-being of others, often overlook the potential dangers that accompany their noble profession.
However, recent statistics have unveiled a disturbing reality: the health care industry surpasses all others when it comes to actual violence, making it four or five times more perilous.
These unsettling findings have been brought to our attention by Michael D’Angelo, a highly esteemed security consultant in Florida, who draws on his extensive experience as a former police officer to shed light on the alarming issue of workplace violence in health care settings.
While it is important to acknowledge that there are other industries that may pose greater overall danger, including higher fatality rates, the prevalence of similar shootings occurring within hospitals nationwide is a grave cause for concern.
The immediate response of the police to the unfortunate incident that occurred at the maternity ward was swift, although their arrival proved to be too late.
Bobby Smallwood, a security guard who had been called in from another Legacy hospital to provide coverage for the understaffed security team at Good Samaritan, had tragically lost his life as a result of a fatal gunshot wound.
Furthermore, another hospital employee had sustained injuries from shrapnel during the incident. The suspect managed to escape and subsequently met his own demise when confronted by law enforcement in a neighboring community.
Due to the ongoing investigation, the hospital has chosen not to provide a response to the comments made by the nurse regarding the incident.
Legacy Health, however, did release a statement to the AP acknowledging the unpredictability of such events and commending the professionalism and immense courage displayed by their team in the face of formidable challenges that day.
In response to this unfortunate occurrence, Legacy Health in Portland has taken significant steps to enhance the safety and security of its premises.
Additional metal detectors will be installed, bag searches will be mandatory for all individuals entering the hospital, and controlled entrances will be implemented for patients and visitors.
Additionally, more security officers will be equipped with stun guns, and bullet-slowing film will be applied to certain interior glass areas as well as at main entrances.
In light of this incident and similar occurrences nationwide, approximately 40 states have enacted legislation aimed at enhancing penalties for acts of violence committed against healthcare personnel, as reported by the American Nurses Association.
Hospitals have responded by equipping their security officers with various forms of self-defense tools, including batons, stun guns, or handguns.
Moreover, specific states such as Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia have even granted hospitals the authority to establish their own police forces in order to further protect their staff and patients.
Critics argue that the presence of private hospital police can worsen existing healthcare and policing disparities faced by Black individuals.
Furthermore, they contend that private police forces often operate without transparency, withholding important information such as the frequency of their use of force or whether they disproportionately detain members of minority communities.
According to Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United and a registered nurse, security teams alone cannot address all the root causes of violence, as many of these issues stem from a dysfunctional healthcare system.
Patients and their families frequently find themselves shuttled between emergency rooms and home, grappling with exorbitant costs, limited treatment options, and long wait times.
This frustrating reality often leads to individuals directing their grievances towards the nearest nurse or staff member, as hospitals often lack a formal complaints department, Burger explained.
Moreover, the issue of understaffing places an additional burden on nurses, as they are forced to care for more patients with limited time to assess each individual for potential behavioral issues.
Burger emphasized that efforts to de-escalate aggression are less effective if nurses have not had sufficient time to establish a connection with their patients.
In conclusion, the concerns raised by critics regarding private hospital police are multifaceted. They highlight the potential exacerbation of existing healthcare and policing inequities faced by Black individuals, as well as the lack of transparency surrounding the operations of private police forces.
Additionally, the dysfunctional healthcare system, characterized by high costs, limited treatment options, and long wait times, contributes to the prevalence of violence in hospitals.
The issue of understaffing further compounds these challenges, hindering nurses’ ability to effectively address behavior problems and de-escalate aggression.
The growing nurse-to-patient ratios pose a significant threat to workplace safety, leading to an alarming increase in incidents of violence, according to D’Angelo.
The absence of the traditional buddy system, where co-workers would watch out for each other, exacerbates the problem. Hospital administrators, concerned about negative reviews, often encourage staff to appease aggressive visitors and patients.
This is due to the Affordable Care Act linking federal reimbursement rates to consumer satisfaction surveys, which can impact the financial bottom line. However, D’Angelo emphasizes that staff safety should always take precedence over survey results.
Eric Sean Clay, president-elect of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety, believes that workplace violence rates in healthcare facilities are significantly underreported.
Caregivers often tolerate such incidents as part of their job and may choose not to report them if they are not injured or believe that nothing will change.
Clay’s hospital employs both armed and unarmed security officers, with plans to arm all officers in the future due to the rise in gun violence.
While Clay and Memorial Hermann Health did not comment on potential negative effects on healthcare access or existing inequities, the nurse at the Portland hospital expressed concern about the temporary nature of increased safety measures due to the financial burden of finding, training, and retaining security officers.
Some of her colleagues have already resigned, unwilling to face another “code silver” alert, which signifies the presence of a weapon in the hospital.
The nurse emphasizes the vulnerability of patients and their families, who are already experiencing the worst day of their lives, making hospital staff reluctant to demand better behavior.
She calls for a shift in this narrative and highlights that true vulnerability is bleeding from a bullet wound or having to barricade oneself and patients due to a code silver situation.