The United States is witnessing a concerning uptick in violent incidents, including shootings and attacks, within healthcare institutions. This surge in violence has added complexity to the already challenging landscape of healthcare, leading to growing concerns about safety and security in the industry.
Last month, unsettling news circulated within an Oregon hospital regarding a disruptive visitor in the maternity ward. Nurses were alerted to the possibility that this individual might attempt to take his partner’s newborn without authorization.
Tragically, later that same day, the visitor unleashed gunfire, resulting in the tragic loss of a security guard’s life. This incident prompted patients, nurses, and doctors to swiftly seek shelter as chaos unfolded within the hospital.
The incident at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland marked a distressing episode within a broader surge of gun-related incidents affecting hospitals and medical facilities across the United States. These incidents have posed significant challenges to the healthcare sector, which has grappled with the task of responding to the escalating threats.
These unfortunate occurrences have played a role in elevating the level of violence within the healthcare industry, leading to a troubling distinction of being one of the most hazardous fields in the country. Statistical evidence underscores the gravity of this issue, revealing that healthcare professionals in the U.S. now face a higher number of nonfatal injuries from workplace violence compared to individuals in any other occupation, even surpassing those in law enforcement.
“When individuals choose to pursue careers in nursing or medicine, concerns about such issues rarely cross their minds. However, in terms of concrete instances of violence, the data reveals a sobering reality: the healthcare field is statistically four to five times more perilous compared to any other profession,” remarked Michael D’Angelo, a security consultant in Florida with a background as a former police officer, specializing in healthcare and workplace violence.
While other sectors may surpass healthcare in terms of overall risk, encompassing fatalities as well, it is important to note that hospitals across the nation have also witnessed comparable instances of shootings.
Similar incidents of Violence
In the past year, a series of unfortunate events unfolded in healthcare facilities across different locations. In Dallas, a distressing incident occurred when a man took the lives of two workers at a hospital while present to witness his child’s birth. Similarly, in Atlanta, a man opened fire within a medical center’s waiting room, resulting in the loss of one woman’s life and injuring four others.Â
In another disheartening incident, a doctor was shot and wounded at a health center in Dallas just a few weeks ago. Furthermore, a tragic event transpired in June 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a gunman targeted a medical office, claiming the life of his surgeon and three additional individuals. This act was reportedly driven by the shooter’s misplaced blame on the doctor for ongoing post-operative pain.
The day prior to the July 22nd incident in Portland, a series of meetings were held within the hospital premises to sensitize employees about the potential scenario of a “code amber” alert. This precautionary measure was taken in anticipation of the visitor’s potential attempt to abduct the child.
A quarter of an hour prior to the shooting incident, an individual at the hospital contacted 911 to report that the visitor was making threats towards the staff. This sequence of events is outlined in a timeline furnished by the Portland police.
“The situation seemed to slip through the cracks,” a nurse remarked. “The extent of the opportunities he was given is unclear. The circumstances reached a juncture where the hospital staff found themselves uncertain about the appropriate course of action, grappling with a sense of confusion regarding the boundaries of what could or couldn’t be done with him.”
Within a matter of minutes, law enforcement personnel arrived at the maternity ward; however, their swift response was unfortunately unable to avert the tragedy. Bobby Smallwood, a security guard who had been drafted from a different Legacy hospital to assist the understaffed security team at Good Samaritan, had already succumbed to gunshot wounds. Additionally, a hospital staff member sustained injuries from shrapnel during the incident. Following the incident, the suspect fled the scene and was subsequently confronted and neutralized by the police in a neighboring community.
“Despite the inherent unpredictability of such incidents, our team demonstrated commendable professionalism and a high level of courage while confronting the exceptionally demanding circumstances on that particular day,” Legacy Health stated in response to inquiries.
Safety measures undertaken
To enhance safety measures, Legacy Health based in Portland has outlined a series of proactive steps. These include the deployment of extra metal detectors, the implementation of mandatory bag searches at all hospital entry points, and the redirection of patients and visitors toward controlled access entrances.
Approximately 40 states have enacted legislation aimed at either establishing new or heightening existing penalties for acts of violence targeting healthcare workers, as reported by the American Nurses Association. In response to these concerns, hospitals have taken various security measures, which include providing their security officers with tools such as batons, stun guns, and firearms.
Moreover, several states, including Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia, have granted hospitals the authority to establish their own dedicated police forces to ensure a safer environment within healthcare facilities.
Security teams are limited in their ability to fully address the multitude of factors that contribute to instances of violence, as a significant portion of these issues stem from systemic problems within the healthcare system, according to Deborah Burger, President of the National Nurses United and a registered nurse.
Burger emphasized that hospitals lack a dedicated mechanism for addressing grievances, leaving patients and their families with few options for recourse. Consequently, the immediate targets for expressing dissatisfaction often become the nurses or staff members who are present and easily accessible.
