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The attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon remind us all that we can never let our guard down. This crime against humanity has and will produce a wide range of security problems for the entirety of American enterprise, including hospitals. Any hospital wishing to find a reason to do a top to bottom security assessment now has sufficient justification. Every hospital must weigh the potential impact of this event as well as those events that are likely to follow and their impact on the well being of their patients, employees, and visitors. This is no time for complacency. SMSI has recently made an unscientific survey of a number of hospitals, from coast to coast, in order to gain some insight regarding the impact and response to this terrorist attack.
There has been a significant rise in the number of bomb threats being called into hospitals. Clearly the bomb threat protocol for each hospital needs to be reviewed. Response procedures, police liaison, media relations, and training all need to be reviewed. In this environment the effect of a bomb threat on employees who are in a heightened state of anxiety will likely be magnified.
Hospitals in communities with significant populations of Muslims and/or people of Middle-Eastern descent must be sensitive to the development of potential frictions between patients and care-givers as well as between employees. Pro-active sensitivity training and the encouragement of tolerance may avert serious problems.
Clearly vehicle control and visitor policies should be reviewed. Escort policies by security personnel and surveillance of common areas should be reassessed. Some hospitals are experiencing elevated levels of traffic driven by the public's desire to volunteer and/or donate blood. The security program must be designed to fit the unique needs of each hospital.
Emergency rooms need to be wary that victims of ethnic conflict may bring their dispute to the hospital. Particular attention should be given to emergency room waiting areas.
Finally, in addition to reviewing the entire security program, be sure to fully document all security related incidents, even those that seem insignificant. This documentation is best tracked in a computer-based tracking program that allows for early recognition of emerging trends. Be sure to fully document all corrective action taken. Remember, security is situational.
The violence wrought upon New York and Washington, DC, will often bring out the best in the citizens of our country. Unfortunately, these events may also bring out some of the worst aspects of human nature. Hospitals must prepare for either. The potential for violent criminal behavior will be further exacerbated if the national economy continues to falter. There are many in our society that has never experienced hard economic times. Economic downturns produce increases in domestic violence, clinical depression, work-place violence, substance abuse, and internal (job-related) and external crime.
For further questions, do not hesitate to contact us at SMSI. We may be able to put you in contact with hospitals in your area for purposes of networking.
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