Battleground Emergency Department: The Critical Role of Hospital Security (AACEM-Sponsored)

Safety in emergency departments (ED) is critical for both staff and patients. Studies show that ED workers, including physicians, nurses, and staff, experience some of the highest rates of workplace violence. For example, 82% of ED nurses and 78% of ED physicians have been victims of physical assault in the past year. Weapons further exacerbate this risk, with Cleveland Clinic reporting over 30,000 weapons confiscated in 2018. Using industry guidelines from the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety, we will explore strategies for improving safety, including space security, weapons screening, and team training. We will also use an audience response system to allow participants to compare their security measures. Speakers have expertise in ED operations and healthcare security.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
  • Understand ED security best practices on design, access control, video surveillance, and communications.
  • Understand different modalities of weapons screening technology and their benefits and limitations.
  • Understand the training and role of hospital security in patient and visitor management.
  • Understand best practice in collaboration between security and clinicians/staff.

Presenters: 

  • Matthew Chinn, MD
  • Myron Q. Love, CHPA, CPP, PSP, PCI
Authors

  • Matthew Chinn, MD

    Medical College of Wisconsin

    Matthew Chinn, MD, FAEMS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) where he serves as the Senior Medical Director for the Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department and Co-Medical Director of the Froedtert Hospital Observation Unit. He received his Bachelor of Science at Texas A&M University and his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He completed his Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati and his EMS Medicine fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In addition to his hospital roles, he currently serves as an EMS Medical Director for a local fire department and has previously worked as a flight physician. He is a core faculty member in the EMS Medicine fellowship and the Health Executive Administrative Leadership (HEAL) fellowship programs at MCW. His academic interests are in hospital and emergency department operations, EMS, and teaching.

  • Myron Q. Love, CHPA, CPP, PSP, PCI

    Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

    Myron Q. Love, CHPA, CPP, PSP, PCI is Director of Safety, Security, Emergency Management and Business Continuity with Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. As a practitioner, he has over twenty years of experience leading physical security and campus safety programs for several of the nation’s top-ranked pediatric and regional adult academic medical centers. He supports his industry as a healthcare security thought-leader, serving as a member of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Council on Guidelines, Director of the ASIS International Processional Certification Board, and Chair of the IAHSS Greater Milwaukee Chapter. He is Chair Emeritus of the ASIS International Healthcare Security Council.

    He is a board-certified subject matter expert, having earned the Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA) credential in addition to the ASIS International “Triple-Crown” as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP), and Professional Certified Investigator (PCI).

    His expertise includes the design and implementation of policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure accreditation compliance, emergency preparedness, and incident response. He has successfully led physical security risk assessment, design, and systems teams working towards activation of new Level 1 Trauma emergency departments, inpatient behavioral health units, and was a contributing SME of the IAHSS Workplace Violence Prevention certification program.

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