Hospitals say public safety measures are top priority after an apparent murder-suicide in the critical care unit at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H., according to an article on the Sea Coast Online website.
All the hospitals in New Hampshire receive ongoing training in emergency preparedness, said Kathy Bizarro-Thunberg, vice president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
“This is for all hazards, natural or man-made like what happened (at Wentworth-Douglass),” she said. “We try to take into account lots of situations that could happen. For training around an incident of an active shooter, we work on security issues.”
Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester has a safety committee that looks at everything from the physical safety of the hospital’s buildings, to hazardous materials and emergency preparedness and patient safety, the article said.
The York Police Department regularly advise on implementing best practices in security, safety and disaster management programs. Access points to patient areas are limited and the facility is continually assessed.
The Growing Crisis in Rural Healthcare Facilities
A Cleaning Alternative: The Benefits of Steam Technology
Novant Health Gets Approval for New Hospital and Freestanding Emergency Department
Preparing Healthcare Facilities for Severe Thunderstorms
NLCS Strengthens Safety and Compliance with Comprehensive Electrical Program