Healthcare Vulnerability & Security Risk Assessments

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The Bureau of Statistics reports that the rate of violence in healthcare and social service industries is higher than in any other industry. Workers in these industries are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than in any other industry. Consider actual accounts of events that have already occurred around the United States. They could happen at any healthcare organization, including physician office practices, anywhere in Louisiana. That’s why hospital security assessments and risk assessments for all healthcare organizations are more important than ever.

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Recent Acts of Healthcare Violence in the US.

• February 2025: An armed man entered the ICU of a Pennsylvania hospital, taking several staff members hostage. The resulting police shootout left the gunman and an officer dead and injured a doctor, nurse, custodian and two other officers.
• July 2023: A gunman at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland opened fire in the facility’s maternity unit, killing an unarmed security officer and injuring other members of staff. Police tracked the attacker down before fatally shooting him in a standoff. The reasons behind his attack are still unknown.
• June 2022: A patient of Dr. Preston Phillips entered a Tulsa, OK, Medical Office building where he shot and killed Dr. Phillips, a receptionist, and two others. Dr. Phillips had recently performed surgery on the gunman, but the reasons behind the attack are still under investigation.
• April 2019: A patient in the inpatient behavioral health unit at Baton Rouge General Medical Center attacked a nurse. When a second nurse intervened to assist, the patient attacked her as well, causing her to injure her right leg and strike her head on a desk. The injured nurse was treated and released from the ER, but died the following week from blood clots resulting from the attack

Common Security Risks in Healthcare

• Uncontrolled access to facilities. Unmonitored entrances, such as unlocked side doors or visitor areas without a check-in system, allow people to bypass screenings, granting access to unauthorized individuals, sometimes with weapons or harmful intent.

• Inadequate staff training. When staff are unable to recognize warning signs or descalate an agitated patient, tensions can rise quickly and dangerously. Healthcare facilities have a duty to equip their employees with the tools and procedures necessary to protect themselves during a potentially violent situation.

• Poor communication. With the rise in violence in healthcare, it’s more important than ever to have reliable communication devices. Panic buttons, radios, and emergency codes are vital when situations can turn violent in seconds.

• Limited surveillance or blind spots. Security cameras that don’t cover hallways, parking lots, or waiting rooms leave staff exposed. Violence can often erupt in overlooked “transition zones,” like entrances and elevators.

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How Can I Protect My Healthcare Practice?

LHA Trust Funds can help you identify the areas where you can make the most improvements to ensure the security of your organization by conducting a healthcare security and threat risk assessment. This risk assessment includes a discussion with staff, a review of pertinent policies, and an evaluation of the organization and grounds to identify areas that may increase your likelihood of a threat and the effectiveness of your response.

What Should I Expect?

1. A comprehensive onsite risk assessment to evaluate security vulnerabilities in your organization. The assessment is a benefit to members of the Physicians Trust at no additional cost.
2. A report of findings of the assessment, including recommendations to reduce the risk identified.
3. One-on-one consulting with an experienced Risk Consultant to help improve your processes.
4. Access to toolkits in our member portal that address numerous topics, including Active Shooter, Behavioral Health, and Violence in Healthcare
5. Access to live staff training in Management of Aggressive Behaviors (MOAB) for Office Practices and Active Shooters.

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Start Your Healthcare Security & Threat Assessment Now

If you are a current member of LHA Trust Funds, please contact Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk, Stacie Jenkins, at staciejenkins@lhatrustfunds.com for more information.

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About the Author

Stacie Jenkins, RN, MSN, CPSO
Vice President of Patient Safety and Risk, LHA Trust Funds

Stacie Jenkins is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing informatics. She has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, working in patient care and quality/performance improvement positions. As the Vice President of Patient Safety & Risk at LHA Trust Funds, she works closely with hospital administrators, risk managers, and nursing staff to improve patient safety and establish best practices. She conducts on-site assessments and gives presentations designed to help clients address their patient safety risk management challenges.