Ambulatory care facility healthcare workers' risk of workplace violence may be elevated because police or security officers are not routinely assigned to these locations, according to an article on the Campus Security website.
A lack of public perception of security issues compared to hospitals may also be a factor, the article said.
Proactive threat assessments are recommended for all freestanding patient care sites.
Universal mitigation strategies that should be considered include:
• One public entrance, with a camera recording everyone who enters
• A barrier between between receptionists and patients
• Controlled access to the treatment area from the waiting room
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