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Healthcare Security Weekly

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Healthcare Security Weekly

Issue 29, July 19, 2004

• Get hospital staff involved in security

  Since security can’t always be in every part of the hospital, getting hospital staff involved...

• Hospital security officer kills attacker

  A security officer at a North Carolina hospital shot and killed the father of a teenage girl in...

• Sex assault at hospital prompts security questions

  Security procedures at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco came under fire last week after an...

Issue 50, December 28, 2004

• Homicide victim discovered in hospital parking lot

  A homicide victim was found in a parked car outside Detroit’s Children’s Hospital last...

• Networking goes a long way

  If you’re stuck trying to gain departmental support in your hospital, then begin networking...

Issue 49, December 20, 2004

• Review policies and procedures at the start of the year

  At the start of the new year, review your hospital’s security policies and procedures...

• Crime victims offer security challenge

  Hospital officials in Des Moines, IL, are struggling with crime victims often dropped at the...

• Nurse charged with stealing painkillers from hospital

  A nurse at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital was charged last week with stealing a...

Issue 48, December 9, 2004

• Teach nurses about visually assessing patients beyond medical care

  Security directors should teach nurses to assess patients for more than just medical reasons.

• Patient pleads guilt to knife attack against nurse

  A patient at Bons Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA, pleaded guilty last week to...

• Patient arrested for threatening hospital staff

  Lufkin police officers arrested a patient last week at Memorial Health Systems of East Texas, for...

Issue 47, November 30, 2004

• Man allegedly slashes hospital diabetes patient

  A man dragged a diabetes patient into a restroom at Metropolitan Hospital in New York last week and...

• Nurses upset after discovering hidden cameras

  Nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital raised concerns last week about privacy after discovering 16 tiny...

Issue 46, November 30, 2004

• When creating prisoner patient policies, involve police and nursing

  Whether a hospital writes several policies or one comprehensive policy for the entire facility...

• Think twice about where you put security cameras

  Before you put cameras in the hospital, ask the following:

• Former employee used hospital lab to grow psychedelic mushrooms

  Police arrested a man last week for allegedly growing thousands of hallucinogenic mushrooms while...

• Fox checks in for hospital visit

  A fox tried to sneak into Southern Main Medical Center in Biddeford, ME, last week, the Associated...

Issue 45, November 15, 2004

• Don’t forget to check the videotape

  When your hospital conducts an infant abduction drill, don’t forget to test your surveillance...

• Patient escapes new psychiatric hospital

  A female patient escaped Maine’s new $31 million psychiatric hospital in Augusta last week...

• Police still looking for armed man

  Kentucky police are still searching for a man that pulled a gun on a woman outside a Winchester...

Issue 44, November 8, 2004

• Broadcast reminders for hospital staff to lock cars

  Frequently remind staff to lock facility vehicles and their own to combat potential thefts, says...

• Psychiatric patient flees hospital and damages nearby van

  A psychiatric patient at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, CO, escaped on October 31 and...

• Hospital pharmacist allegedly steals $80,000

  A former hospital pharmacist will appear in court this month on charges of stealing thousandes of...

Issue 43, November 10, 2004

• Educate employees about hospital theft

  Statistically employees commit more theft in an organization because there is constant opportunity...

• Former hospital employees stole and sold medical equipment

  Virginia police arrested two former hospital employees last week and charged them with stealing...

• Flu vaccines go missing at Maine hospital

  Maine Medical Center officials reported 100 missing doses of the flu vaccine last week to police...

Issue 42, October 24, 2004

• How security can help in drug theft investigations

  If you're interested in helping employee drug theft investigations at your hospital, then talk to...

• Patient escape results in apparent suicide

  Bergen (NJ) Regional Medical Center will hire a consultant to review security after a psychiatric...

• Newborn's body found in hospital laundry room

  Police hope hospital security tapes can solve how a newborn's body ended up in a pile of dirty...

Issue 41, October 18, 2004

• Check out these upcoming hospital security seminars

  Two chapters of the International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety will host seminars...

• Hospital security discovers abandoned infant

  A security officer found a newborn girl inside a book bag outside a Chicago hospital last week, the...

• Hospital missing $40,000 in equipment

  Westmoreland Regional Hospital in Greensburg, PA, is missing $40,000 worth of diagnostic equipment...

Issue 40, October 15, 2004

• Crack down on late incident reports

  If your security officers aren't turning in reports in a timely manner, then create a deadline...

• Hospital security increased after parking lot rape

  McAllen (TX) Medical Center increased security this summer after a 14-year-old girl was raped in...

• Hospital murder-suicide raises security questions

  A Utah hospital staff will review security following the murder-suicide of a married couple last...

Issue 39, October 3, 2004

• Don't ignore the hospital's mission in your requests

  Security shouldn't operate as a mini-police department in the hospital. Its focus should always be...

• Doctor fired for bringing gun to work

  A doctor who left a loaded handgun in an employee bathroom at Salem (MA) Hospital lost his job last...

• Man poses as doctor, assaults woman

  A Houston hospital increased security last week after a man posed as a doctor and sexually...

Issue 38, September 26, 2004

• Look for people seeking refuge from winter temperatures in your hospital

  With winter weather on its way, remember to look for people hiding in your hospital, recommends...

• Hospital steps up security after toddler goes missing

  The University of North Carolina Hospital increased security last week after a parent removed his...

• Phony technician makes costly repair

  A phony repairman stole expensive parts from three sonogram machines at the University of Michigan...

Issue 37, September 19, 2004

• Train armed security officers like you'd train police officers

  Consider sending security officers to the police academy. Go above and beyond state requirements...

• Security officers say they couldn't stop hospital gunmen

  Security officers in a New York hospital couldn't stop a gunmen from entering the hospital...

• New law requires standardize security officer training

  Beginning on October 1, Connecticut security officers must undergo standardized training for jobs...

Issue 36, September 12, 2004

• Five ways staff steal drugs

  Drug abusing staff can cost hospitals millions of dollars.

• Nurse under investigation for drug theft

  Washington police are investigating a Cascade Medical Center nurse for stealing painkillers after...

• Hospital security heightened for Clinton's surgery

  Former President Bill Clinton underwent quadruple bypass surgery last week at New York's...

Issue 35, September 5, 2004

• Clarify who can bring weapons within the facility

  Assuming hospital visitors, patients, and staff can't bring weapons to the facility-a standard in...

• Gun-holding doctor suspended

  Salem (MA) Hospital and the state medical board are investigating a doctor who allegedly left a...

• Terrorists may target VA hospitals

  Officials warned last week that Al-Qaida may attack Veterans Affairs hospitals, the Associated...

Issue 34, September 1, 2004

• Escaped mental patient steals 18-wheeler

  A man undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at Lebanon hospital in Tennessee allegedly escaped from...

• Man kills wife and self at AL hospital

  Security concerns at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, AL, arose last week after an 80-year-old man shot...

Issue 33, August 23, 2004

• Think before renaming your infant abduction code

  While some hospitals are changing infant abduction codes from a code pink to code amber to align...

• Officer shoots hospital hostage taker

  California police shot a woman last week after she took a comatose patient hostage, the San Jose...

• NJ hospitals ramp up security

  Princeton HealthCare System (PHCS) increased security measures last week after the latest terrorist...

Issue 32, August 17, 2004

• New DVD examines workplace violence

  The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health released a new DVD about preventing...

• NJ hospitals are possible terror targets

  Federal officials warned New Jersey hospitals that they could become terrorist secondary targets...

• Two patients escape mental hospital

  Tennessee police are upset at Lakeshore Mental Hospital in Knoxville after two patients escaped...

Issue 30, August 6, 2004

• Do your homework before arming a security officer

  When deciding whether to arm a security officer, do your background work.

• Cocaine stolen from Florida hospital

  Lakeland Regional (FL) Medical Center officials are investigating the theft of cocaine from a...

Issue 29, July 28, 2004

• IAHSS chapter conference set for September

  The International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety will host an educational conference...

• Man charged in hospital security farce

  A Wyoming man is in trouble after allegedly threatening a hospital in April, the Laramie Boomerang...

• Family feud erupts in hospital lobby

  A family feud carried over into Rhode Island Hospital’s lobby last week, the Pawtucket Times...

Issue 27, July 14, 2004

• Three tips to remember during protests

  Security should closely watch outside groups’ protests. Remember the following three tips if...

• WI hospital is the latest victim of medical equipment theft

  Thieves walked away with more than $38,000 worth of medical equipment from a La Crosse, WI...

• Bullet strikes PA hospital

  Someone shot a bullet went through a window, lodging in the wall of Doylestown (PA) Hospital on...

Issue 26, July 6, 2004

• NFPA proposes security standards

  The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has proposed two standards concerning security for 2005.

• NFPA proposes security standards

  The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has proposed two standards concerning security for 2005.

• CA hospital evacuates after bomb threat

  Central Valley General Hospital staff and patients evacuated the Hanford, CA, facility last week...

• Doctor loses cool over new hire

  Wilkes Barre (PA) General Hospital security escorted a neurosurgeon from the facility last week...

Issue 24, June 22, 2004

• Better prepare for union strikes

  While union strikes can sometimes come out of the blue, hospital security can prepare ahead of time.

• Hospital security shoots and misses driver, wounds passenger

  In an attempt to stop an patient fleeing in a car, a hospital security officer at Sinai-Grace...

• Black bear takes fatal visit to VA hospital

  Police shot a full-grown black bear last week, after it wandered into Carillion Franklin Memorial...

Issue 23, June 22, 2004

• No more handcuffs for patient restraint, CMS says

  Under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) guideline 482.13 (f), hospitals should...

• Prisoner flees MO hospital

  While receiving treatment at a Missouri hospital, a prisoner escaped a hospital security officer's...

• Kino hospital security blamed for $1 million in drug thefts

  Critics blame the deterioration of Kino Community Hospital's security and neglected safeguards for...

Issue 22, June 8, 2004

• Hospital security seminar set for June 16

  The Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania (HCWP) will feature a seminar on Wednesday, June 16...

• Man stole cancer patient IDs for home improvement

  A man reportedly stole $6,000 from cancer patients at a New Haven hospital to purchase home...

• Savannah hospitals beef-up security for Sea Island Summit

  The National Guard will greet patients and visitors at Memorial Health University Medical Center in...

Issue 21, June 1, 2004

• Don't give in to manipulative patients

  You may have seen it before: A patient tries to goad you or a coworker into a verbal or physical...

• Detroit hospital security guard shoots coworker

  A St. John's Riverview Hospital security guard was arrested and charged with killing a fellow...

• Montreal hospital beefs up security after student fakes study

  A Montreal hospital tightened security after discovering an alleged student entered restricted...

Issue 20, May 24, 2004

• Know when to lockdown your hospital

  If you're unsure when to activate a lockdown plan, consider the advice of Earl Williams, HSP...

• Patient steals ambulance

  A Chicago woman stole an ambulance parked outside Norwegian-American Hospital last week, according...

• Man attempts rape at Pennsylvania hospital

  A man at Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie, PA, allegedly tried to rape a woman in a hospital...

Issue 19, May 19, 2004

• How to justify your hospital's security model

  If an adverse event takes place at you hospital and spawns litigation, Fredrick Roll, CHPA-F, CPP...

• Staff prevent infant abduction at California hospital

  An emergency room worker stopped a woman, disguised as a physician, from kidnapping a baby from...

• Hospital police officer shoots man in patient parking lot

  A Veterans Affairs Medical Center police officer shot a man who tried to drive over two officers in...

Issue 18, May 14, 2004

• Selecting a security officer

  As a security director, an important decision is figuring out who to hire as a security officer.

• NY hospital security officer charged with sexual abuse of minor

  A security officer was arrested last week after allegedly molesting a 16-year-old patient in her...

• Guard stabbed at children's hospital in United Kingdom

  Two men stabbed a security guard was stabbed in the stomach with a chisel outside of Pendlebury...

Issue 17, May 4, 2004

• Tip: prevent medical equipment theft tip

  In a year, a hospital can lose nearly $1,000,000 in medical equipment thefts alone.

• Colposcope worth $30,000 stolen from Texas hospital

  The Odessa Police Department is searching for the thief of a $30,000 colposcope from Medical Center...

• Man shoots wife and himself in Texas nursing home

  An 84-year-old man shot his wife and himself in a Texas nursing home last week, according to the...

Issue 16, April 25, 2004

• Review weapon policies with law enforcement officials

  With law enforcement officials frequently visiting your hospital for a variety of reasons, make...

• NYC scrutinizes hospital security

  New York City's public hospitals are facing criticism for not having policies on employee...

• Prisoner patient fires three shots in hospital

  A prisoner patient at Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia swiped a gun from a corrections officer...

Issue 15, April 18, 2004

• What to do when an incident happens at your hospital

  Part of being a security director is handling incidents gone array in your facility. Since you...

• Girl, 13, raped at Bellevue Hospital

  New York City police arrested a man on Friday, April 9, in connection with the rape of a...

• Guns for sale at NYC hospital

  A Bellevue Hospital medical assistant has been charged with dealing guns and drugs from inside the...

Issue 14, April 12, 2004

• Recent infant abductions call for prevention reviews

  The longer hospitals go without an infant abduction is almost a catch-22, says Cathy Nahirny...

• Nurse's aide arraigned in KY hospital infant abduction

  A nurse's aide for the Fort Logan Hospital in Stanford, KY, was charged with kidnapping last week...

• Man caught on tape stealing hospital computer

  A Bronx man was charged with stealing a computer from Putnam Hospital Center last week, after the...

Issue 13, April 4, 2004

• No metal detectors, no need to worry

  If your hospital can't afford metal detectors, consider other options.

• AZ hospital loading dock full of pot

  Two boxes worth of marijuana mysteriously ended up on Tucson's University Medical Center's loading...

• Man who dragged security guards charged with attempted murder

  An Illinois man was charged with attempted murder last week after allegedly dragging two hospital...

Issue 12, March 28, 2004

• How much security do you need?

  Determining the amount of security you need in your facility is tricky.

• Accused thief escapes hospital, dodges police

  A man who allegedly tried to steal artwork from a gallery last week escaped a Montana hospital...

• Doctor shot in Dallas hospital

  A psychiatrist suffered a minor gunshot wound last week, after a man allegedly shot the doctor in...

Issue 11, March 21, 2004

• IAHSS conference set for June

  The 36th annual International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) is scheduled...

• Armed hospital visitor takes security officers hostage in CA

  A man is in custody after allegedly taking a handgun into a Chico, CA, hospital and holding two...

• Woman pleads guilty to stealing from hospital cafeteria

  A former head cashier at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, plead guilty to stealing...

Issue 10, March 14, 2004

• Keep scrubs in your hospital

  Last week a Canadian hospital fed up with an estimated $300,000 loss in stolen scrub suits decided...

• Man shoots himself with rifle outside Anchorage emergency room

  With a rifle in hand, a man entered the hallway outside Alaska Regional Hospital’s emergency...

• Hospital argument turns deadly in Detroit

  An argument at a Detroit hospital left one person dead last week after two suspects got into a...

Issue 9, March 8, 2004

• Consider security officer certification

  If you're trying to determine whether your security officers should seek certification, here are...

• Search continues for hospital credit union robbers

  Detroit police are searching for two men who allegedly robbed a credit union inside a Grosse Pointe...

• Man exposes self and head butts police officer in emergency room

  A Millville, NJ, man faces sex offense and aggravated assault charges after allegedly exposing...

Issue 8, March 1, 2004

• How to handle suspicious packages

  When it comes to handling suspicious packages in your hospital, the responsibility typically lies...

• How to handle suspicious packages

  When it comes to handling suspicious packages in your hospital, the responsibility typically lies...

• Two hospital security officers fired after allegedly driving car into man

  Two security officers, at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut were fired last week after allegedly...

• Bombs found in Salt Lake City hospital

  Security officers at Salt Lake City's VA hospital discovered a suspicious red duffel bag containing...

Issue 7, February 23, 2004

• Eight ways to prevent weapons from turning deadly at your hospital

  Keeping weapons out of your hospital may be the biggest battle-even if you have metal...

• Woman shoots herself at Fort Knox hospital

  A woman shot herself with a pistol in an examination room at a Fort Knox hospital last week.

• During arrest, woman assaults hospital security and police

  A woman was arrested in an Indiana hospital's emergency room last week after assaulting a police...

Issue 6, February 16, 2004

• Six tips to secure your hospital’s parking lot

  The hospital parking lot or parking garage is where patients and visitors often feel unsafe, says...

• Ammonia leak forces hospital into lockdown

  An ammonia leak in a pork production plant in Sioux Falls, SD, forced a nearby hospital into...

• Elderly woman assaulted and robbed in hospital parking lot

  A Missouri hospital may add outside surveillance cameras after a 83-year-old woman was assaulted...

Issue 5, February 9, 2004

• Preventing prisoner patient "uh ohs" at your hospital

  An incident last week in Nebraska involving an escaped inmate from a hospital (see story below...

• Armed inmate escapes from hospital

  Police are looking for an inmate who escaped from a Nebraska hospital with a gun last week.

• Men who steal medical equipment receive jail time

  Two men involved in stealing thousands of dollars in medical equipment from hospitals throughout...

Issue 4, February 2, 2004

• Hospital computer theft can be more than a financial bust

  When it comes to protecting hospital computers, security must look beyond simply keeping the...

• Metal detectors aren't always the answer

  If your hospital can't afford to invest in metal detectors, consider other options.

• Woman plays nurse and walks off with cash

  A woman impersonated a nurse to con a security officer at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, SC...

• Long Island hospital detains man during anthrax scare

  Security at North Shore University hospital in Manhasset, NY, responded quickly on Wednesday...

• Artist gets $10,500 after winning false-arrest suit by hospital security

  An Akron, OH, artist was awarded $10,500 on Tuesday, January 20, after winning a false-arrest suit...

• Hospital steps up safety awareness after parking lot purse snatchings

  After two purse snatchings within weeks of each other at the Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah...

Issue 3, January 19, 2004

• NIOSH tests escape respirators

  When purchasing escape respirators for your facility, look for products approved by the National...

• Prisoner taken to hospital escapes custody

  A violent offender who was shackled at the waist, wearing a handcuff, and walking with a cast on...

Issue 2, January 12, 2004

• Use a task force to upgrade security response

  Make sure you include all relevant departments on a task force when your facility revamps its...

• Infant abductions down in 2003

  A Christmas Eve abduction of a baby girl from her mother’s room in a New Jersey hospital...

• Threat level lowered to yellow

  The Bush administration lowered the national terror alert level January 9, saying an urgent threat...

Issue 1, January 5, 2004

• Survey monitor

  Surveyors from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) want to...

• Woman accused of stealing baby from NJ hospital

  Police arrested a 22-year-old woman after she allegedly befriended a new mother in a Newark, NJ...

• Visitor stabbed at Wichita hospital

  A man visiting a patient at a Wichita hospital on December 27 was stabbed in the arm by another...