title: Evaluation of very important person (VIP) policy to include victims of violence.
abstract: Hospitals in low crime areas, believed to be far removed from gang activity, might suddenly be involved in a gang shooting situation for which their staffs are ill-prepared, as the author relates. He describes the need to have a policy in place in advance of a gang victim arriving at your ED to avoid situations where staff and patients are put in danger. The article presents the highlights of a policy developed by his hospital after an unlooked for event.
authors.affiliation: Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schoolfield
mesh_terms: D019548:Crime Victims; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017751:Safety Management; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014789:Visitors to Patients