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Violence and general security in the emergency department
G J Ordog1, J Wasserberger, C Ordog
1King/Drew-UCLA Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles 90059, USA.
Summary
Emergency departments (EDs) face significant weapons-related violence. Staff must be trained to recognize, respond to, and debrief after violent incidents to ensure safety for patients and personnel.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Criminology
Background:
- Emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly recognized as high-risk environments for violence.
- Weapons-related assaults pose a significant threat to healthcare workers and patients in urban settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the incidence and nature of weapons-related violence in an urban ED.
- To develop recommendations for enhancing ED staff security and response protocols.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive analysis of weapons-related assaults was conducted over a 14-year period (1979-1993).
- Case examples of violent incidents within the ED were documented.
Main Results:
- 115 incidents of weapons-related violence occurred during the management of approximately 980,000 patients.
- The study highlights the prevalence of violence, including instances where external violence followed victims into the hospital.
Conclusions:
- ED staff require preparedness through danger recognition, response mechanism rehearsal, and post-incident debriefing.
- Ensuring patient and personnel safety necessitates robust security measures, including immediate access to armed security guards in urban EDs.
- Proactive planning and practice are crucial for managing violence, especially when it extends into the hospital environment.