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.”
Following a shooting in Columbia Friday evening, police say 20 to 30 angry people demanded to see the victim, Anthony James Owen-Smith, 20. When they were denied access to the emergency department, they first tried to get in the ambulance entrance, then some climbed over the nurse?s station to get to an unlocked door, police said.
Three people were arrested.
“Security is an important aspect of emergency departments,” said Dr. Bill Frohna, director of Union Memorial Hospital?s emergency room. “Everybody assesses their own risk.”
An off-duty city police officer is always present in the lobby, at a prominently located desk with a full view of the facility. Union also has silent alarms located at various points both in the lobby and behind locked doors, with additional security officers ready to respond in seconds.
Some hospitals employ metal detectors, but Frohna said he doesn?t know of any in this area and doesn?t think they fit with the mission of healing injured and sick people.
Sinai Hospital employs three security officers at all times, said security chief Roger Sheetz. The affiliated Northwest Hospital has two guards stationed in the emergency room.
Given the nationwide average wait of more than four hours in emergency waiting areas, Sheetz said, some people can get agitated. “The emergency rooms are considered the place to go whenever people don?t know where else to go, whether it?s a drug overdose or violence or mental illness. That contributes to the situation.”
Overall, he said he feels comfortable with the precautions taken at LifeBridge?s facilities in and around Baltimore, which include Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital as well as Sinai and Northwest.
