Journal of healthcare protection management : publication of the International Association for Hospital Security 

About: Journal of healthcare protection management : publication of the International Association for Hospital Security is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Poison control & Health care. It has an ISSN identifier of 0891-7930. Over the lifetime, 217 publications have been published receiving 675 citations.

When cultures collide.

Abstract: When it was discovered that the perpetrator of a hit and run accident that sent two severely injured victims to the author's hospital was the father of one of the victims who allegedly tried to kill her for dishonoring the family, a 15 day siege ensued. In the article, the author describes the problems involved in keeping two warring families apart without denigrating their culture and the lessons learned for dealing with such complex situations.

Violence against nurses working in US emergency departments.

Abstract: UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to investigate emergency nurses experiences and perceptions of violence from patients and visitors in US emergency departments (EDs). BACKGROUND: The ED is a particularly vulnerable setting for workplace violence, and because of a lack of standardized measurement and reporting mechanisms for violence in healthcare settings, data are scarce. METHODS: Registered nurses members (n=3,465) of the Emergency Nurses Association participated in this cross-sectional study by completing a 69-item survey. RESULTS: Approximately 25% of respondents reported experiencing physical violence more than 20 times in the past 3 years, and almost 20% reported experiencing verbal abuse more than 200 times during the same period. Respondents who experienced frequent physical violence and/or frequent verbal abuse indicated fear of retaliation and lack of support from hospital administration and ED management as barriers to reporting workplace violence. CONCLUSION: Violence against ED nurses in highly prevalent. Precipitating factors to violent incidents identified by respondents is consistent with the research literature; however, there is considerable potential to mitigate these factors. Commitment from hospital administrators, ED managers, and hospitals security is necessary to facilitate improvement and ensure a safer workplace for ED nurses.

Survey of local public health workers' perceptions toward responding to an influenza pandemic.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Current national preparedness plans require local health departments to play an integral role in responding to an influenza pandemic, a major public health threat that the World Health Organization has described as "inevitable and possibly imminent". To understand local public health workers' perceptions toward pandemic influenza response, we surveyed 308 employees at three health departments in Maryland from March - July 2005, on factors that may influence their ability and willingness to report to duty in such an event. RESULTS The data suggest that nearly half of the local health department workers are likely not to report to duty during a pandemic. The stated likelihood of reporting to duty was significantly greater for clinical (Multvariate OR: 2.5; CI 1.3-4.7) than technical and support staff, and perception of the importance of one's role in the agency's overall response was the single most influential factor associated with willingness to report (Multivariate OR: 9.5; CI 4.6-19.9). CONCLUSIONS The perceived risk among public health workers was shown to be associated with several factors peripheral to the actual hazard of this event. These risk perception modifiers and the knowledge gaps identified serve as barriers to pandemic influenza response and must be specifically addressed to enable effective local public health response to this significant threat. (See chart at end of article).

Will emergency health care providers respond to mass casualty incidents

Abstract: UNLABELLED Emergency response plans often call on health care providers to respond to the workplace outside of their normal working pattern. HYPOTHESIS Providers will report to work during a mass casualty emergency regardless of family duties, type of incident, or availability of treatment. METHODS Survey of emergency personnel needed to respond to a mass casualty incident. Two scenarios were presented: one involving the release of a non-transmissible biological agent with proven treatment and the other the release of a transmissible biological agent with no treatment. At critical time points, participants were asked whether they would report to work. Additional questions considered the effect of commonly used treatment dissemination methods. RESULTS A total of 186 surveys were issued and returned. (45 physicians, 29 nurses, 86 EMS personnel, and 20 support staff); 6 were incomplete and excluded. Initial commitment rates were 78%. The highest commitment rate identified was 84% and the lowest was 18%. Any treatment dissemination method excluding providers' family members led to decreases in commitment rate, as did agents identified to be transmissible. CONCLUSIONS As an event develops, fewer health care providers will report to work and at no time will all providers report when asked. This conclusion may be generalizable to several types of incidents ranging from pandemic influenza to bioterrorism. Identification of the causative agent is a major decision point for providers to return to or stay away from work. Offering on-site treatment of providers' family increases commitment to work. These factors should be considered in emergency planning.

2008 HIMSS analytics report: security of patient data.

Abstract: This report, released in April 2008, summarizes findings from a survey of senior executives from healthcare organizations across the United States on how their organizations are dealing with an environment in which the need to secure patient data is ever becoming an increasingly greater priority. The survey was conducted by HIMSS Analytics, Chicago, IL (http://www.himssanalytics.org/), a company which collects and analyzes healthcare organization data relating to IT processes and environments. The report was funded by Kroll Fraud Solutions, Nashville, TN (www. krollfraudsolutions.com), a provider of data protection and identity theft response services. Excerpts from the report are reprinted with permission. To download the entire report, go to: http//www.krollfraudsolutions.corr/about-kroll/HIMSS-Patient-Data-Security-Study.aspx