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The answer is probably some of each. Why are so many hospitals spending upwards of six figures for security devices to protect babies? What is the likelihood that your hospital will have an abduction attempt in the next 12 months? The reason that hospitals have responded so vigorously to this perceived threat is they have used their L&D Departments as the promotional linchpin with which to sell the hospital to the community they serve. Abduction of an infant so badly wounds the reputation of a hospital that it takes years to recover. Infant abductions, wherever they occur, will draw national headlines.
The reality is that the probability of abduction occurring at your hospital is extremely small. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children report only a small number of abductions per year, usually fewer then 10. The reason that hospitals respond so vigorously to this threat is that if abduction should occur, the impact would be horrendous and because so many hospitals are taking extraordinary measures to protect infants, the standard of care bar has been raised. Hospitals that have not gone the extra mile are more likely to suffer civil litigation. Second, perpetrators are now more likely to target hospitals that are softer targets.
Most crimes that occur in and around the hospital are crimes of opportunity. The criminal spots an opportunity and takes advantage of it without much advance planning. An abduction, on the other hand, usually requires a great deal of planning and stealth. That plan usually includes the selection of the sex and ethnicity of the baby. These criminals learn the routine of the L&D Department, sometimes passing themselves off as employees, and become familiar with the unit's security measures. They take advantage of the weakest link in the security chain.
When an abduction is either attempted or carried out, there is almost always a break down in the behavior of the L&D Staff, in other words, human error. Electronic security systems are not a panacea, and they are not a substitute for staff vigilance and awareness. In one abduction, the nurse actually opened a door for the perpetrator. There are some indications that the more a hospital relies on electronic gadgetry to protect infants, the greater the likelihood for the nursing staff to relax vigilance.
What should your hospital do to insure the safety of infants?
First, conduct a thorough security audit that examines both the vulnerabilities as well as the threat. This audit must evaluate physical security measure presently being used, policies and protocols, training, the security department and the hiring and screening practices for new employees (including temporary staff).
Second when considering the application of security hardware, including tag systems, card access systems and cameras, be sure every point of ingress and egress is covered. When any of these systems goes into alarm, there must be a preplanned response. The level of security design will be determined not only on the basis of threats but also on the basis of the location and architectural design of the L&D unit. For example, L&D units located on ground floors are more vulnerable than those on upper floors.
Third, develop a complete set of polices and procedures that deal with both the prevention of abductions as well as the response to an abduction. Once these policies have been developed, conduct drills to test the veracity of the plan as well as for training purposes.
Fourth, provide for the unmistakable identification of infants. Make sure staff are clearly identifiable. Provide for the control and identification of authorized visitors. These suggestions provide a partial representation of the components of a sound infant protection program. Don't wait to get your program up to speed.
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