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LA/OC IAHSS Recognizes Hospital Security Officers for Saving Lives, Outstanding Performances

Award recipient Destiney Salmon of Valley Presbyterian Hospital.

On June 13, 2019, Valley Presbyterian Hospital security was assisting with the transport of an emergency department patient watch who was scheduled to be transferred to Silver Lake Medical Center. During the transfer of the patient to the ambulance, the patient became agitated and began to swear at the medical staff, stating that he was going to die if he was transferred.

The patient then began to grab and pull at the restraints and medical equipment in an effort to get free. The attending security supervisor called a Code Gray and requested for assistance in controlling the patient.

Three security officers responded to the call and by this time, the patient had managed to get his feet out of the restraints. He had flipped over onto his knees while on top of the gurney and tried to kick the staff while they were attempting to gain control of his wrists and ankles. The four security officers were able to right the patient onto his back and replace the restraints, but only after the patient had managed to bite the security supervisor.

During this time, Security Officer Destiney Salmon was able to talk to the patient and calm him down while waiting on the Los Angeles Police Department to respond.

No less than 24 hours later, Officer Salmon would be called upon again to address a combative patient.

On June 14, a Code Grey was called to handle a patient who had previously been challenging for the nursing staff. This patient had defecated and smeared her feces in a different unit and had been undressing and throwing liquid at the nursing staff.

Officer Salmon responded, and with the help of the charge nurse and the patient’s doctor, was able to establish a game plan to have the patient discharged and escorted off the premises. Director of Acute Care Services Roni Eapen also responded to the Code Grey and had been watching this exchange of words between Officer Salmon and the patient. He had this to say about the interaction: 

“Today, we had one of the most difficult discharges from SMU. We had the right team members assisting with the situation, including security guard Ms. Salmon. We were dealing with the same patient who smeared stool in 4west and did the same thing upon her discharge today at SMU. She attempted to spit on me and the charge nurse and she also threw all the liquids at us while speaking with her. It felt like a SWAT team intervention and very stressful. I have to say in all my experience dealing with behavior patients, security guard Salmon was one of the few that knew what she was doing. She was fair but firm with the patient. She took control of the situation before I attended to the Code Gray in SMU. She negotiated with the patient and gave her expectations and a time limit. I want to share this with you all so she can get her kudos for handling this situation better than most of her male counterparts. I do not mind having her by my side for the next Code Gray as well. She was awesome today.”

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