Doc Shot At Kaiser Hosp in LA

mattsmom81 · Sep 21, 2003

One reason I try to screen and limit visitors in ICU (I call security for all angry visitors now ) is for this reason. Who knows if they have a gun? Who knows what they'll do next?

I've only been involved in 3 gun incidents surprisingly...one was a drug seeker who held one of my coworkers hostage. Another time was a gang banger seeking revenge, another a man who shot his wife but didn't kill her the first time so he came back to try and finish her off. All of these ended well, thank God, mostly cuz our local police were close and responded quickly.

In my facility today, my security guards resemble the shooter in the OP's story....they aren't real cops and many look like they could use a walker too...

Angry, unrealistic patients and families abound...we will have more shootings...hospitals will respond by putting an extra rent a cop on duty...for a short while. Then back to status quo.

I agree the big problem today is the attitude of the general public. Too many want those perfect results, want to get 'their way' everytime...10 minutes ago....or they feel justified in getting abusive. People in general were NOT like this 20 yrs ago.

Some nights I truly feel like a sitting duck on duty.

Teshiee · Sep 21, 2003

I am not suprised considering Kaiser has the worst reputation in providing health care. It shouldn't come to anyone's death or destruction but it should be a wake up call for these half ran facilities.

sjoe · Sep 21, 2003

"I am really surprised that there are not more shootings like this."

I agree.

Geeg · Sep 22, 2003

We need metal detectors for everyone who enters. Unfortunately, hospitals usually have too many entrances. I can't see this happening until someone from admin takes a bullet.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 22, 2003

Guess that hospital administrators should read this story:

MEDICAL FACILITY DESIGN HAS CHANGED AS OUTPATIENT CARE AND SECURITY NEEDS HAVE RISEN

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Pittsburgh architect specializing in healthcare design says that hospital planners have begun to respond to two dynamics in designing facilities: how to improve service in inpatient and outpatient environments and how to address the emerging need for greater security in light of terrorist and other emergency threats.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 9, 2003

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03252/219565.stm

TaraER-RN · Sep 22, 2003

Ok...I work for Kaiser...and anyone who bad mouths it needs to look at all the other facilities out there...Kaiser is a great place to work and I believe we give excellent care! Yes, there are DOCTORS or NURSES who give bad care, but it is NOT Kaiser and has nothing to do with Kaiser...these people could work anywhere...it all has to do with an individuals experience and since Kaiser is the biggest HMO (especially on the west coast) of course they are going to get the bad rap, but I'll tell ya..I would trust my life to the people I work with...not trying t get defensive, I just hate it when people say its Kaiser thats bad...its not Kaiser its the individuals who aren't giving quality care and they could be (and are) in every hospital

sjoe · Sep 22, 2003

"I just hate it when people say its Kaiser thats bad...its not Kaiser its the individuals who aren't giving quality care and they could be (and are) in every hospital"

So you are saying Kaiser is NOT responsible for the healthcare its employees provide?

Though we have gotten somewhat off the track of this thread.

(I worked for them for a year, by the way, and twice they were my employer-sponsored HMO.)

TaraER-RN · Sep 24, 2003

I know...off track...I'm not saying Kaiser isn't ultimately responsible if something bad happens and they don't do something about it...but when a person starts saying "its just Kaiser" that is really awful because if they had gotten a different nurse or MD then the one they had then they wouldn't neccessarily feel the same way, and like I said I've had awful experiences in other hospitals due to a nurse giving poor patient care...but I don't go around blaming the institution...its that nurse or MD and I would just refuse to have them take care of me again...get what I mean?

mattsmom81 · Sep 24, 2003

I object to the line of thinking that the care had anything to do with this or any violent incident. It's NOT the care, it's NOT the service or facility, it's NOT the readily available guns either...(please no anti gun rhetoric again.)

What it IS, IMHO, is the dangerous mindset of a great % of the public out there... impatient, violent, abusive people who think the world (and the hospital)is a Burger King, and facilities that sell this idea. I too am surprised I haven't been involved in more dangerous situations than I have already.

Zee_RN, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2003

Originally posted by Geeg
We need metal detectors for everyone who enters. Unfortunately, hospitals usually have too many entrances. I can't see this happening until someone from admin takes a bullet.

Absolutely right!!!