Violence Against Healthcare Workers Increases

Violence against emergency room nurses and other medical professionals appears to be increasing as the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and psychiatric patients show up regularly in emergency rooms across the country, according to a recent survey of industry professionals.
 
The survey, produced this year by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, illustrates that visits to ER’s for drug and alcohol-related incidents rose significantly from 1.6 million in 2005 to nearly 2 million in 2008.

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Active Security at Healthcare Facilities

Healthcare Facility Safety is a Multi-Faceted Issue

Safety and security issues must be considered systemically. There are a myriad of variables that come into play in a healthcare environment. Safety is not relegated to one problem with a corresponding safeguard; it functions as an active system.

Secure Design

An urban hospital, for example, might create an outer ring with bollards and rails that appear decorative but are strong enough to stop a vehicle from crashing into an entrance.

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