Emergency room violence: an update

Since our last special report on emergency room violence (see the report in our August 1989 issue) in which we warned of the growing threat of drug-induced behavior, the rate of drug-related emergency room visits continues to rise and has become a major cause of ER violence in many cities. As serious as this development is, there are a number of other causes of ER violence that continue to threaten the security of ER staff, patients, and visitors, as well as the hospital's ability to provide effective emergency medical care. In this update, we'll visit three hospital ERs that truly have been on the violence firing line. We'll speak to both security directors and ER directors. We'll learn how they are dealing with the daily (and nightly) challenges, the options that confront them, and the decisions they are making.