Hospital Security

'How Safe Is Your Campus?' Survey Results: Hospitals

Active shooters/bombers, as well as public safety staff and weapons shortages pose big challenges for U.S. healthcare facilities.

By Robin Hattersley Gray | November 09, 2010 | Comments (1) | Post a comment

Note: This is the third installment of exclusive research featured in the Campus Safety Yearbook. Results for universities and K-12 campuses, as well as technology and officer salaries will be released on CampusSafetyMagazine.com throughout the month of November.

Probably the most troubling statistic of the entire "How Safe Is Your Campus" survey involves hospitals and their inability to respond to active shooters and bombers. A whopping 40 percent of hospital respondents disagree somewhat (21 percent) or strongly (19 percent) with the statement: "If an active shooter or bomber came onto my campus, my department and my institution would be able to respond effectively."

Weapons, Staffing Shortages Are Major Concerns

This data correlates with hospital respondents' concerns about weapons: 44 percent say they don't have enough and the right type of lethal and less lethal weapons.

View "How Safe Is Your Campus" Survey Results: Hospitals

Staffing data also correlate with the active shooter/bomber and weapons statistics. More than two in five hospital respondents (41 percent) disagree somewhat or strongly with the statement: "My department has enough staff to respond appropriately to incidents."

Fortunately, a significant majority of hospital respondents say their institutions have developed good relationships with their surrounding communities and other jurisdictions. Hopefully, these relationships can offset some of the weaknesses described in the other categories.

Administrators Support Hospital Security

Almost four in five (79 percent) of hospital survey takers say that their top administrators take campus safety and security seriously. Nearly three quarters (74 percent) of hospital respondents say they have enough authority to do their jobs well. More than three in four expect the same or more resources will be dedicated to safety and security in 2011.

Hospital respondents are also overwhelmingly confident in their institutions' emergency management programs. At least 80 percent expressed strong or some satisfaction with all four categories in the survey (plans, weather/natural disasters, hazmat and pandemic flu).

View "How Safe Is Your Campus" Survey Results: Hospitals

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Many appropriate topics were discussed and percentages displayed. However, having what is percieved to be the appropriate amount of personnel and / or equipment is all well and good. BUT, if those individuals and the department do not receive proper and on-going training, then manpower and equipment make no difference. Two recent articles are excellent examples of training in the Healthcare/Hospital Environment. The need for professionalism in Healthcare Security by Bruce Irvine in the latest edition of IAHSS Directions Magazine. And an article in the latest edition of ASIS Security Management Magazine by Anthony N. Potter entitled "Curing What Ails Training." Joel D. Wiesner CPP/CHPA/CIPI Director - H.S.E.S. Healthcare Security Educational Services

Wiesner, Joel D.
November 10, 2010