Focus: Security

Keeping patients and staff safe without armed security

Scientific American opinion piece recommends eliminating armed police, guards in emergency rooms


There is  good evidence to suggest that guns shouldn’t float around the emergency room, according to an opinion piece on the Scientific American website. 

Data show that increasing the carriage of weapons doesn’t correlate with a decrease in hospital violence. In fact, 23 percent of emergency department shootings involve someone attempting to take a weapon from a security officer.

Still, hospitals continue to arm their guards. A 2014 survey reported that security officers carry handguns in 52 percent of hospital institutions, while 47 percent use Tasers. 

That’s almost four times estimates found in similar studies from 2011—just three years before. This presence of armed police—who rarely receive training to work in medical settings or instruction on de-escalation tactics—changes the tenor of conflict in the emergency room, the article said.

Read the article.



July 17, 2020


Topic Area: Security


Recent Posts

From Downtime to Data: Rethinking Restroom Reliability in Healthcare

Manufacturers discuss the operational issues plaguing healthcare restrooms and how to shift maintenance from reactive to resilient.


LeChase Building Four-Story Addition to UHS Delaware Valley Hospital

It will consolidate services into a state-of-the-art Medical Neighborhood.


AdventHealth Sebring Breaks Ground on Expansion Project

Construction is scheduled to begin in March and is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2027.


Regulations Take the Lead in Healthcare Restroom Design

Infection-control guidance and water management standards drive earlier planning, smarter fixtures and more resilient restroom environments.


AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital Opens Expanded Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

Construction began in July 2025 and included 12 new inpatient rehabilitation beds, bringing the unit’s total to 29.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.