Survey Finds ER Doctors Want More Security Measures

ER doctors say they are dealing with more patient assaults and would recommend more security measures to increase employee safety.

• By Sydny Shepard
• May 01, 2019

A survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians claims most doctors believe emergency room violence is increasing.

Nearly half of the doctors surveyed said the hospital could help out more by adding more security, cameras, and metal detectors. 

A longtime ER doctor in Lexington, Ky. told WKYT that he has been the victim of physical and verbal assaults before. 

"I've been assaulted," Dr. Ryan Stanton said. "I've been kicked, I've been punched. I've been threatened."

Training for hospital staff is made available so that they can protect themselves.

"There's a thing we learn," Stanton said. "There's things we know how to address. There's training done with the staff. We learn never to let someone between you and the door, to always have an exit."

Expert opinions from the survey said that the best way to circumvent violence in emergency departments was to learn de-escalation methods, design considerations such as creating lines of sight, enhanced access control and creating better communications methods between patients, staff and administration.