Shooting Gives Hospital Violence Prime Time Attention

By now most readers are familiar with the murder-suicide last Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore that also left an attending physician with a serious gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Fortunately, at this writing, the victim, David B. Cohen, MD, a 45-year-old orthopedic surgeon, father of two young children, and all around "good friend and nice guy" to co-workers at the hospital, is expected to make a strong recovery.

If any sliver of good can be plucked from this mindless tragedy, it may be the raising of public awareness about the extent of violence in our nation's hospitals. Even before this latest attack, the issue of hospital violence had begun to be seen on the radar screen for the mainstream media.

The Associated Press, for example, wrote a widely distributed piece on the dangers faced by emergency department workers. Media outlets--including the major cable TV stations--scrambled for follow-up coverage of the Johns Hopkins shooting by putting a spotlight on in the latest violent incidents.
at hospitals.

The issue has gained enough prominence that even network television—that flawed mirror of our society—has taken up the issue. Grey's Anatomy dedicated its season finale this year to a shooting rampage at the hospital.

Of course, HealthLeaders has been covering the issue for months, hoping for the best, but fearing the worst:

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All of this newfound media attention is a good thing. Many people view journalists as vultures sweeping into tragedies to pick at the carcass. Regardless of what you think of journalists, media attention creates public awareness, and public awareness can  prompt action.

Unless there is evidence of egregious negligence on the part of a hospital, the public is not inclined to blame a hospital if a shooting occurs on its campus, just as they wouldn't blame a car for a drunk driver, or a bank for a robbery. Thinking people understand that hospitals are as vulnerable as any other place—if not more so—-to the violence that pervades our society.

Edgardo Tenreiro, COO at Baton Rouge General Medical Center, said the Johns Hopkins shootings immediately prompted memories of a Sept. 3 double shooting at his hospital. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh! We're not the only ones.' In a sense I was somewhat relieved, even though at the same time I was very unhappy that it happened again," he says.

Tenreiro says he doesn't believe BRGMC could have done much to prevent the Sept. 3 shooting. "This was a very, very specific targeted domestic dispute, and we were a target of opportunity. This shooter knew both victims were going to be together in this one location and were targeted in that sense," he says.

He sees a connection with reports of violence in other hospitals. "It's not a hospital trend, but hospitals have been part of a much larger nationwide trend from folks who are using violence to solve disputes," he says. "The public is beginning to realize that this is something that is not just a local issue but a nationwide issue."

Action is being taken on other fronts. The American Society of Safety Engineers on Oct. 19-21 will convene a virtual symposium on workplace violence and other hazards in the healthcare setting. ASSE correctly notes that hospitals present unique challenges for security because of their mission, and virtually unrestricted 24/7 public access. The symposium will address preparing and responding to workplace emergencies, such as on-campus shootings, and also address reducing injuries associated with patient handling, and exposure to infectious diseases.

This pooling of effort and resources is another sign that healthcare leadership is coming around. For too long, it has appeared to me, healthcare leadership has been looking at these violent attacks only as isolated incidents. In one sense, they are right. These attacks are isolated and unpredictable and very hard to prepare for. However, that doesn't mean hospitals can't provide security resources that might thwart, discourage, or mitigate an attack.  

Let's hope it doesn't take another shooting to further the issue.
In the meantime, here's wishing Dr. Cohen a speedy recovery.