Focus: Security

Keeping patients and staff safe without armed security

Scientific American opinion piece recommends eliminating armed police, guards in emergency rooms


There is  good evidence to suggest that guns shouldn’t float around the emergency room, according to an opinion piece on the Scientific American website. 

Data show that increasing the carriage of weapons doesn’t correlate with a decrease in hospital violence. In fact, 23 percent of emergency department shootings involve someone attempting to take a weapon from a security officer.

Still, hospitals continue to arm their guards. A 2014 survey reported that security officers carry handguns in 52 percent of hospital institutions, while 47 percent use Tasers. 

That’s almost four times estimates found in similar studies from 2011—just three years before. This presence of armed police—who rarely receive training to work in medical settings or instruction on de-escalation tactics—changes the tenor of conflict in the emergency room, the article said.

Read the article.



July 17, 2020


Topic Area: Security


Recent Posts

Creating Healthcare Campus Master Plans That Allow Movement and Respite

A thoughtful campus master plan looks beyond buildings to the corridors and transitional spaces that shape how people experience healthcare environments.


Aspirus Health Celebrates Opening of Chippewa Falls Hospital and Clinic

The new facility combines hospital and clinic services in one location and is designed to support patients with coordinated, patient-centered care.


AdventHealth to Open Aurora Highlands Medical Campus

AdventHealth Aurora Highlands includes a 24-hour freestanding emergency room, outpatient imaging and clinic services.


The Future of Healthcare Facility Construction Projects

Brian Cowperthwaite highlights the invisible work that impacts everyone who walks through a healthcare facility.


Arnprior Regional Health Upgrades Building Controls to Improve IEQ

Case study: They wanted to improve the hospital facility’s IEQ to support patient care and reduce long-term operating costs.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.