Are Hospitals Safer With or Without Guns?

A hospital can sometimes be a dangerous place. The number of violent crimes reported by

healthcare institutions doubled between 2012 and 2014. An informal survey of members of

the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety was conducted by that

organization a few months ago. Researchers say hospital employees come into contact with

thousands of patients each year. The number of security personnel with guns in hospitals in

2014 was 52 percent. According to The New York Times, national surveys suggest that

almost half of the survey respondents use Tasers for punishment. Until a few years ago, more

than half of foreign tourists were believed to be indigenous people (Finkel, 2018).

Parkview Health is an example of an organization that arms its officers, with its headquarters

located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company has 45 sworn police officers and 75 non-sworn

public safety officers across its eleven facilities. In addition to hospitals, there are several

doctor's offices and clinics. Several years ago, Thomas Fonseca, a lawyer at Thomas F.

Sullivan, stated the statement above. Parkview Health has been managed by Partners in

Health since 1998. Rhoades is the police chief and director of Parkview (Finkel, 2018). A few

years ago, he moved from the Kansas City police department where he had worked for

several years to the Parkview police department. During his time in Fort Wayne, he was a

member of the homicide squad. Along with all of these duties, he also performed the duties of

a quadrant captain and the chief of internal affairs. In the past, violence has been caused when

someone did not accomplish a task to the best of their abilities. Some health care workers

experience workplace violence regularly. A lot of people were tricked into thinking that they

could be closer to extended families if they participated in the contest.

Guns, Tasers, and other weapons have become more common in hospitals in the past few

years. In today's healthcare environment, there are more risks than ever. It is unacceptable

that dysfunctional and wrongdoing behaviour within the city cannot be addressed at any cost.

The emergency clinic staff are monitored by advanced security measures "round the clock" in

the interest of their safety. This is unquestionably one of the most dangerous places on the

planet. Individuals who are disturbed by little impact are calmed by experienced patients.

However, as long as they don't break any bones because of major strains or sprains. It is

almost inevitable that a force will accelerate a vehicle. When a patient appears to have the

upper hand, it is especially important to be aware. Things like striking staff members with a

weapon and effectively banning staff members belong in this category. Additionally, it also

features a faraway blade or gun. To protect large healthcare facilities and remote offices,

healthcare providers are entirely dependent on security experts. In the well-turned healthcare

offices, it is challenging to maintain professionalism and comfort. It is even more challenging

when dealing with the general public and utilizing different resources. Particularly sensitive

are the cases of property owners and those of individuals. An increased risk of security arises

when emergency clinics face heightened security. If an attempt is made to break up a medical

facility by a person, medicines and therapeutic supplies is usually taken along with patients.

As a result of the inherent risks they face at emergency clinics, security personnel at medical

clinics are constantly exhausted. Risks of security are increasing in clinics day by day.

Human services offices and clinics are increasing patient access to security officers

progressively. The vast majority of these individuals are sick, and many of them are self-

destructive. If they need medical attention & help, many people like these rely on the

emergency department of the hospital exclusively. The lack of resources causes a few

services related to health to be unavailable on the network. All of these patients have
psychological wellness issues, and healthcare providers have a lot of trouble supporting them.

The main duty of security staff is to ensure patients' well-being. Furthermore, they are also

held accountable for shielding guests and staff from brutal interactions in that case. Security

in medical services offices that employ armed guards is proven to reduce the risk of

dangerous and violent situations. A clinic can communicate security through this channel to

visitors and employees.

Guards in the security clinics argue that an armed guard in an effective situation sends the

wrong message. They cause patients and guests to feel vulnerable and tangled easily in

situations of this sort. It is a questioned issue as to whether there should be different

requirements when providing security at all medical clinics. Furthermore, the issue of open

discrimination should also be addressed. At the right time, components at a medical clinic can

rapidly and significantly alter the perception of a medical centre. Besides, factors such as

employee behaviour, the layout of parking spaces, and overall cleanliness play a role.

Officers with guns and cuffs are probably more likely to have a crash test than officers

without guns. The safety of guns is generally considered to be due to the fact they generally

provide a sense of security. The equipment security officers at the medical clinic have a

choice to make regarding whether or not positive or negative effects will result. Even though

certain long-held beliefs continue to be challenged, it remains a controversial issue.

One study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicates

that human service professionals and social administration professionals can face serious

risks due to job-related violence. Medical personnel continues to suffer half of all work-
related injuries. They suffer a lot less than 20% of all workplace injuries regardless of the

fact. There have been many occurrences that have gone unreported, so the true rate may be

much higher. There are vast differences between a hospital setting and a town setting when it

comes to the effects of weapons given to a medical professional. Storing weapons in plain

sight is a serious negative sign for the Medical Services department. Furthermore, certain

security organizations may even try to manipulate certain individuals to abuse them. Clinic

security guards need to be armed to prevent attacks. This is also done to protect guests,

hospital staff, and patients from violence coordinated by the organization.

Almost all emergency clinic security guards offer programs. This program covers topics such

as laws applying to capturing and securing weapons. Security guards can receive customized

training based on their needs. Patients have unique needs, which clinics are specially

designed to meet. To carry weapons, there needs to be the authorization of the security officer

at the place in which they carry. As long as the weapon is in his possession, the officer must

keep it safe. Security guards at medical clinics should be armed. There are a variety of

variables to consider in determining whether or not to arm them. The variables for this study

encompassed not just state legislation governing gun ownership but also federal legislation.

Intensive care clinics that are situated in low crime areas will need fewer gatekeepers in

comparison to those that are located in high crime areas. In one of the fastest-growing regions

in the country, the health sector should maintain both patient and worker safety by providing

a pleasant, safe environment for all.

Besides, a strict access control system will be in place within the clinic for the designated

areas. Elementary schools, for instance, have working areas and nurseries. Arming security

officers is a matter of individual choice at emergency clinics. The rise in popularity of

security guards that are not armed but are still able to handle potentially violent situations

might make them an ideal option. Firearms do not cause as much damage as Tasers and
Mace. Contrary to this, they have proven effective against rough individuals. Because of this,

I conclude that hospital officers need to be guarded. It is important to make sure everyone is

protected if such an incident occurs.

Because mentally ill patients and crimes may have steadily increased rates due to these

factors, hospitals and physician practices have a right to take precautions for patients' safety.

References:

Tsai, J. (2020, July 14). Get armed police out of emergency rooms. Scientific

American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/get-armed-police-out-of-emergency-

rooms/

Finkel, E. (2018, May 9). Is armed security the key to better hospital safety? Security

Magazine The business magazine for security

executives. https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/88998-is-armed-security-the-key-to-

better-hospital-safety

Course Hero, (2019). Are Hospitals Safer with or without Guns?.