There was news circulating in an Oregon hospital that a visitor was causing trouble in the maternity ward and there were concerns that he might attempt to abduct his partner’s newborn. Later, the visitor opened fire, resulting in the death of a security guard and causing chaos as patients, nurses, and doctors scrambled for cover. This incident is part of a larger problem of gun violence plaguing hospitals and medical centers in the United States, which have struggled to address these growing threats. In fact, health care workers now experience more nonfatal injuries from workplace violence than any other profession, including law enforcement.
According to Michael D’Angelo, a former police officer who specializes in health care and workplace violence, health care workers never consider the possibility of violence when choosing their careers. However, statistics show that health care is four to five times more dangerous in terms of actual violence than any other profession.
Similar shootings have occurred in other hospitals across the country. For example, in a Dallas hospital last year, a man killed two workers while there to witness the birth of his child. In May, another man opened fire in an Atlanta medical center waiting room, killing one woman and injuring four. There have been additional incidents, such as a shooting in a health center in Dallas where a doctor was wounded, and a Tulsa, Oklahoma, medical office where a gunman killed his surgeon and three others.
It’s not just shootings that pose a threat. Health care workers accounted for 73% of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries in 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the case of the Portland shooting, hospital employees were warned about the potential threat during meetings the day before the incident. Yet, the visitor managed to slip through the cracks, leaving staff unsure of how to handle the situation.
Legacy Health in Portland plans to implement enhanced security measures, such as installing metal detectors, conducting bag searches, and directing patients and visitors to controlled entrances. Additional security officers will be equipped with stun guns, and protective film will be applied to certain glass areas. However, critics argue that these security measures do not address the fundamental issues that contribute to violence in the health care system.
Deborah Burger, the president of the National Nurses United, points out that a dysfunctional health care system can be a contributing factor to violence. Patients and families often face frustrations such as high costs, limited treatment options, and long wait times, which can lead to tension and aggressive behavior towards health care workers. Furthermore, understaffing puts additional strain on nurses, making it difficult to properly assess patients for potential behavioral problems.
While some hospitals have armed security officers, critics argue that private police forces can exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly for Black individuals. Additionally, security measures alone cannot address the underlying factors contributing to violence within the health care system.
Efforts to de-escalate aggression can be undermined when nurses haven’t had the time to develop a rapport with their patients due to high nurse-to-patient ratios and limited time for individual assessments. Some hospital administrators may prioritize placating aggressive individuals over staff safety, as patient satisfaction surveys tied to federal reimbursement rates can impact the financial bottom line of hospitals.
The president-elect of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety, Eric Sean Clay, believes that workplace violence rates in health care facilities are significantly underreported. Many caregivers tolerate violence as part of the job and may not report incidents if they did not result in injury or if they believe nothing will change.
The Portland nurse who witnessed the shooting expresses concern that despite the promises of increased safety, it may only be a temporary solution due to the cost and challenges of finding, training, and retaining security officers. Some of her colleagues have resigned because they don’t want to face another incident of violence.
The nurse emphasizes the need to challenge the perception that vulnerability is inherent in a hospital setting. She believes that true vulnerability is bleeding from a gunshot wound or having to barricade oneself and patients in a room due to a violent incident.