June 2022 turned out to be an active month with hospital violence. According to FBI Active Shooter statistics (2020) June typically trends higher than the other months with activity year-over-year. According to US newspapers, there were five (5) incidents of hospital shootings and stabbings that resulted in death or significant injury this month. This article will highlight the incidents, actions, and other considerations.
Events Summary
Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton Ohio. On June 1st at 9:45 a.m. a forensic patient in the Emergency Department was seeking medical treatment. The 35-year-old male suspect removed the firearm from the security guard. The inmate fatally shot the security guard then ran out of the ED and committed suicide in the hospital parking lot.
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Oklahoma. On June 1st at 4:52 pm, a 45-year-old male opened fire in a physician's office practice killing 2 doctors, 1 nurse, and 1 visitor before committing suicide.
Encino Medical Center in California. On June 3rd at 3:50 p.m. a 35-year-old male stabbed 2 nurses and a physician in the Emergency Department. The suspect was arrested after staff barricaded him in a closet.
UMC Hospital in Las Vegas. On June 23rd at 1:50 pm, a male patient in the ED Behavioral Health unit stabbed two patients killing one. The patient was arrested by law enforcement with the help of facility security.
Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Texas. On June 29th, a 35-year-old male Emergency Department staff what to do with his firearm and was acting suspiciously. Upon arrival, the patient shot at law enforcement who returned fire and killed the suspect.
Summary
According to the public news articles:
·100% of all suspects were male
100% of all suspect's ages ranged from 30 – 45 years
100% of the events appeared to have occurred without signs of escalating behavior.
80% of events occurred during the day shift.
80% of events occurred in the Emergency Dept.
60% of the events involved a firearm.
Best Practices
Staff were able to identify an escalating/ unsafe situation and removed themselves from the area.
Staff quickly responded to the situation and called for security/ law enforcement/ assistance.
Considerations
Forensic officers should consider securing their firearms when transporting or interacting with patients inside the hospital.
Hospitals should consider installing walk-through metal detectors at hospital public entrances or utilizing hand-held metal detector wands on all patients upon presentation in the Emergency Department.
Hospitals should consider performing a search on all behavioral health patients or patients seeking treatment for mental health reasons. An environmental and patient search in this population should be conducted once per shift or when changing staff.
Hospital Emergency Department’s should consider performing BROSET assessments on all patients to assess their agitation (similar to fall risk).
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