Security at U.S. hospitals called 'growing concern'
Security at U.S. hospitals called 'growing concern'
Prepare response, lawyer advises
A recent security-related incident at a U.S. hospital is of "significant concern" and should serve as a wake-up call to health care leaders, suggests Stephen Frew, JD, a web site publisher (www.medlaw.com) and risk management specialist.
What he learned from individuals at a hospital security consulting firm with which he works, Frew says, is that a security officer approached two men of "apparent Middle Eastern descent" who were videotaping inside a hospital that he does not name.
"Security [officers] had them shut off the video recorder and asked for identification," he recounts. "They responded that they did not have any identification and they then proceeded to go outside and get in their vehicle and leave the property."
The vehicle was a rental car, Frew notes, which he says strongly suggests that the individuals lied about their lack of ID.
Security cameras obtained footage of the men and it was furnished to police, he adds. The report of the incident does not indicate whether any attempt was made to detain the individuals or whether they offered any explanation of their activities, Frew notes. "The context of the report suggests that they did not."
It is also not clear from the report if the person who approached the two men was a private security officer or a police officer on duty as a private or public security officer, he says.
Frew suggests a range of possibilities that might explain the incident. Tongue firmly in cheek, he says the two could be "tourists interested in hospital architecture who entered the country without passports or ID, but because of their obvious good character were allowed into the country and were rented a car anyways."
Another scenario, Frew says, is that the men were employees of a plaintiff's lawyer who is suing or will be suing the hospital and that they fled to cover their true status.
As a third option, he adds, "is there a remote chance that these individuals were involved in 'casing' the facility for illegal activities of some nature, ranging from theft to kidnapping to terrorism?"
Frew points out that he has warned periodically of the tempting target hospitals could be to terrorists.
"There is no one right answer to how hospitals should plan for and react to such situations," he says. What's important, Frew adds, is that health care facilities consider such threats and have a response prepared.
"This is not the first reported incident of individuals without identification filming or posing as inspectors," he notes. "Hospital security is a growing concern and should be a priority in routine and emergency operations planning."
A recent security-related incident at a U.S. hospital is of "significant concern" and should serve as a wake-up call to health care leaders, suggests Stephen Frew, JD, a web site publisher (www.medlaw.com) and risk management specialist.Subscribe Now for Access
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