LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — HCA Florida Palms West Hospital is increasing its security measures after a violent assault on a nurse by a patient in late February. The hospital has introduced a dedicated workspace for law enforcement officers in its emergency room as an initial step toward enhancing safety.
However, law enforcement officials have raised concerns that these measures fall short of what is truly necessary to prevent similar incidents.
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Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw emphasized that the current decision does not involve a full-time deputy stationed in the emergency room, reports WPBF.
“The deputy could be so busy that night that he doesn’t get a chance to do anything,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw further explained that meaningful security improvements would require HCA Florida Palms West Hospital to contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) for dedicated deputies, similar to measures adopted by other hospitals in the area, reports CBS12.
A spokesperson for Palms West said the hospital has plans to contract with PBSO for dedicated security officers in the near future. Hospital administrators and PBSO command staff have scheduled a meeting next week to discuss assigning deputies to the emergency room during peak hours.
The increased emphasis on security follows the brutal attack on Leelamma Lal, a 67-year-old nurse, by a patient, Stephen Scantlebury, 33.
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According to a probable cause affidavit, Lal sustained devastating injuries from the attack, with “essentially every bone in the victim’s face…broken,” and she is now at risk of losing sight in both eyes. She was airlifted to another hospital due to the severity of her condition.
Palms West Attack Prompts Questions About Baker Act Training Requirements
The assault has also raised questions about hospital staff training requirements under the Baker Act.
Before the attack, Scantlebury was admitted to Palms West under Florida’s Baker Act, a law that allows for the involuntary commitment of individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. He was temporarily held at Palms West because no bed was available at a Baker Act receiving facility, which requires additional state licensing.
Typically, medical staff at Baker Act-receiving facilities receive hands-on psychiatric training to manage psychiatric patient care. Nurses in other medical settings, such as the emergency room at Palms West, receive psychiatric care training only as part of a broader online module that also covers other areas of general patient care.
