Word quickly spread within an Oregon hospital that an individual was causing trouble in the maternity ward and nurses were warned that this person may attempt to abduct a newborn baby. Hours later, the troublemaker opened fire, resulting in the death of a security guard and the chaotic evacuation of patients, nurses, and doctors. The incident at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland is just one example of the wave of gun violence that is impacting hospitals and medical centers across the United States, institutions that have struggled to adapt to the growing threats. As a result, health care has become one of the most violent fields in the country, with data showing that health care workers now suffer more nonfatal injuries from workplace violence than workers in any other profession, including law enforcement.
According to Michael D’Angelo, a former police officer and current security consultant in Florida, health care professionals do not typically consider the potential for violence when choosing their career. However, statistically speaking, health care is four to five times more dangerous than any other profession. Similar incidents have occurred in hospitals throughout the nation, such as a man killing two workers at a Dallas hospital last year while awaiting the birth of his child. Shootings, however, are not the only type of violence health care workers face. In fact, 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 recent shooting in Portland, employees at the hospital were warned about the possibility of a kidnapping attempt during a briefing, just one day prior to the incident. Fifteen minutes before the shooting occurred, someone at the hospital called 911 to report that the troublemaker was threatening staff members. Unfortunately, by the time the police arrived, it was too late. A security guard had been fatally shot and another hospital employee was wounded. The suspect fled but was later killed by the police. Legacy Health in Portland has since announced plans to enhance security measures, including the installation of metal detectors, bag searches, and controlled entrances, as well as providing more security officers with stun guns and applying bullet-slowing film to certain areas.
Many states have passed laws to address violence against health care workers, and some hospitals have armed their security officers with various weapons. However, critics argue that private hospital police forces can exacerbate existing health care and policing inequities for Black individuals and often lack transparency in reporting their use of force. Ultimately, security measures alone cannot address all the factors that contribute to violence in health care. The dysfunctional health care system and issues such as understaffing and limited treatment options also play a role. Furthermore, some hospital administrators prioritize patient satisfaction surveys over staff safety due to the financial implications of lower satisfaction scores.
The rates of workplace violence in health care facilities are believed to be underreported, and many caregivers do not report incidents for fear of retaliation or because they do not believe it will lead to any change. Eric Sean Clay, the vice president of security at Memorial Hermann Health in Houston, believes that caregivers have become tolerant of violence as part of their job and hopes to eventually arm all security officers in response to the rise in gun violence. While increased safety measures have been promised, there are concerns about the long-term sustainability of these measures due to the high costs associated with finding, training, and retaining security officers.
The nurse at the Portland hospital shared her colleagues’ fear and somberness following the shooting incident. She worries that the hospital’s efforts to improve safety will only be temporary due to the financial challenges involved. Some staff members have resigned because they do not wish to face another incident like the recent shooting. It is important to challenge the narrative of vulnerability in health care settings, as true vulnerability lies in bleeding from a gunshot wound or having to barricade oneself and patients due to an armed threat.