title: Theft of expensive hospital medical equipment: how professional thieves have been operating in Florida; what you should be doing to protect your hospital's assets.
abstract: A number of Florida hospitals report they have fallen prey to thieves who are dressing as hospital workers or service company employees and stealing expensive medical equipment. The thefts are creating both financial loss to hospitals and the danger that some lifesaving equipment will be missing when needed. More than 50 hospitals have been hit over the past 18 months, says Jim Kendig, incoming president of the Florida Society for Healthcare Security and Safety Professionals, Orlando. Are these thefts the tip of the iceberg? Logic dictates they are taking place or will take place elsewhere, since there is nothing different security-wise or equipment-wise about Florida hospitals compared to those in the rest of the country that would limit criminals to one state. Therefore, the lessons learned by Florida hospitals, as detailed in this report, are worth heeding elsewhere.
mesh_terms: D008192:Deception; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D005431:Florida; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012954:Societies, Hospital; D013192:Staff Development; D013675:Technology, High-Cost; D013800:Theft / Q000517:prevention & control*