ER managers say security top priority

Emergency department managers decried Friday?s outbreak of violence at a Howard County emergency room, but said they are prepared for disruptions.

“Following Sept. 11, hospitals have done a lot of work in emergency preparedness,” said Mary Patton, spokeswoman for Howard County General Hospital. “The planning we did … has really helped us in situations like this. While the disorderly conduct was very disruptive, the emergency department continued to function and people were able to go about their business. That?s really crucial.”