Special report. Upgrading security: hospitals opt for new equipment; new approaches; heavy investments in additional patient, employee protection.
An increasing number of hospitals are taking steps to prevent the violence that plagues both urban and rural areas from spilling over into their emergency rooms and nursing units. Four facilities--Duke Medical University Center, Durham, NC; Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH; Ingalls Hospital, Harvey, IL; and University Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV--have recently installed new equipment or implemented innovative security procedures in an effort to better protect patients and employees. Although the price tag for additional protection is often high, officials at the hospitals agree that providing a safe environment is worth the investment.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D016495:Police; D012637:Security Measures / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014789:Visitors to Patients