Patient Attack Leads to New Hospital Security Measure in Canada

After a review of a violent incident at Penticton Regional Hospital in British Columbia, staff members will be equipped with personal alarms.
Published: April 22, 2015

Staff members will start wearing personal duress alarms at a hospital in British Columbia after a patient assaulted a doctor last year.

The December 2014 attack took place at Penticton Regional Hospital and left a doctor with various severe facial injuries. The attack also prompted an investigation by Interior Health and WorkSafe BC, who have concluded all staff members in the psychiatric ward should have personal duress alarms.

The estimated $93,000 cost of the alarms will be entirely funded by Interior Health, the company announced April 17. Interior Health had requested the hospital district pay for the security upgrade, but to do so the district said it would have had to delay a pediatric project, according to globalnews.ca.

The alarms will officially be in use within the next six months.

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