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Emergency Department Violence in United States Teaching Hospitals

NCJ Number
129546
Journal
Annals of Emergency Medicine Volume: 17 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1988) Pages: 143-149
Author(s)
F Lavoie; G L Carter; D F Danzl; R L Berg
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
One hundred twenty-seven United States teaching hospital emergency department (ED) medical directors responded to a survey which revealed that 41 experienced at least one verbal threat of violence every day and 23 reported at least one threat with a weapon per month.
Abstract
Nearly all (125) of the responding facilities used the 4-point restraint on those threatening violence; personnel in 32 facilities restrained at least one person per day and personnel in 17 had significantly injured patients during restraint in the 5 years preceding the survey. However, only 51 institutions had trained ED nurses in recognition and management of violence and only 79 employed round-the-clock security personnel. A comprehensive risk-management approach for emergency departments must address environmental factors, training policies, restraint, security, and litigation issues. 6 figures and 114 references (Author abstract modified)

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