Infant Security News
Dedicated
to Preventing Infant Abductions & Mother / Baby Mix-ups
|
Security
Assessments International 2405 |
Routing: [ ]
Maternal – Child Care
[ ] Pediatrics [ ] Risk
Management [ ] Facility Services [ ] Security
VOLUME I NUMBER II July, 2003
“Infant Security News” is SAI’s quarterly
newsletter dedicated to helping hospitals provide protection for their youngest
patients. Each edition of this free
newsletter will feature current infant security events in the news, and each
issue we’ll analyze an actual infant abduction case. Cases will be analyzed to determine how
security was defeated and recommended preventive measures.
Hospitals May Expose Patients to Security Risks
Crime continues to penetrate the healthcare setting at
an alarming rate. Assaults on medical personnel are becoming increasingly
frequent and severe. Emergency Rooms across the country are becoming the scene
of violent attacks by patients, relatives or their friends, often involving
knives and guns. Hostage taking situations are on the rise. Driven by these
trends, healthcare providers face an increased likelihood of serious liability,
and virtually without out exception, the charge leveled is inadequate
security.
Hospital Risk Managers know that the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations requires them to
have a viable security management program, although JCAHO does not describe
with specificity what constitutes a viable program. JCAHO, in conjunction with
the many Federal, State, and local organizations that regulate healthcare
facilities also require appropriately written protocols, policies and
procedures, re-enforced with education and training. But here again, hospitals
are left to their own devices when determining if these required safety
materials are appropriate. Additionally, industry standards mandate specific
security measures for newborn nurseries and birthing centers which cover three
general areas: personnel orientation and continuing education, access control,
and identification of patients, visitors, and staff.
Through increased media attention the public is
becoming more and more aware of the threats and risk associated within the
hospital setting. Unfortunately, for many hospitals the perception of
"diminishing" hospital safety and security has become a public
"reality". Prospective patients and families are increasingly
evaluating hospitals not only for the quality of care provided, but now more
than ever, for the protection provided to them and their love ones. With this
in mind, it becomes increasingly essential for healthcare providers to offer
state-of-the-art security protection for all their patients, visitors, and
staff.
“In today’s hospital setting healthcare providers are
realizing, now more than ever, patient care and security are inseparable.”
Security Assessments International can help, see “High
Point Reaches a Security High”
Note: Jeff. Aldridge is an
internationally recognized healthcare security expert and has worked with
Fortune 500 Companies in their design and development of state-of-the-art
security products for the healthcare industry. Mr. Aldridge founded SAI in 1994 and
continues to serve as a consultant to the National media and law enforcement on
infant security issues. He was recently
interviewed by NBC, CBS, and the FOX network on mother-baby mix-ups in relation
to HR 78 which is a newly proposed Congressional Bill that mandates protection
of newborns from abduction and mother-baby mix-ups in hospitals.
CASE STUDY #1002 HOSPITAL ABDUCTION
Hamilton Regional Medical Center, Southeast US – Hamilton Regional
Medical Center became a victim hospital when a female abductor stole an 11 hour
old female from the MOTHER’S ROOM. The female abductor stole a lab coat
from an unlocked nurse’s lounge. She was carrying a pager that belonged to
her boy friend who happened to be in prison at the time. The abductor was
also wearing an employee, hospital ID badge (backwards) that had been attached
to the stolen lab coat. Posing as a nurse she was able to gain access to the
mother’s room in the maternal-child care unit where she was confronted by the
victim mothers parents. She stated she was taking the
baby for a blood test and would bring the baby right back. The female abductor
lay down her pager before she picked up the baby. The baby’s father stated he
had seen the female abductor earlier in the hallway and she had told him she
was pregnant. The female abductor had gained access to the unit through a open stairwell door and existed with the baby using the
elevator next to the mother’s room. The female abductor took the baby to the
home of her boy friend’s mother and told her that she had delivered the baby on
the previous day at the same hospital. The baby’s skin and eyes were the same
as the abductor.
The
female abductor was arrested for kidnapping, and ruled incompetent to stand
trail 10 days later. The abductor had taken the baby to jail to show her boy
friend. The pager recovered at the crime scene was traced to the abductor’s boy
friend in jail. The baby was recovered five days after the abduction and
identity confirmed through foot printing the infant at recovery.
Contributing Factors / Vulnerabilities Unique
to this Case
|
· Elevator not equipped with access control |
· Unsecured I.D. Badge |
|
· No Visitation Policy |
· Open Access to Mother/Baby Unit |
|
· Unsecured Emergency Exits |
· Limited Parental Education |
|
· Unsecured Nurses Lounge |
· No second form of ID in Mother/Baby Unit |
|
· Inadequate Physical Security |
· Abductor fit profile told baby’s dad she was pregnant |
Preventive Measures
1. Perform an Annual “Threat Assessments” to ID
vulnerabilities.
2. Identify all personnel that enter your
maternal-childcare and pediatric units.
3. Control Access for all Maternal-Child Care
and Pediatric Units.
4. Equip Emergency Exits with time delay locks
that meet NFPA Requirements
5. Provide Staff with second form of I.D.,
authorized to transport babies
6. Secure staff dressing rooms and lounges.
7. Install CCTV, Card Access, and Infant
Electronic Alarms.
8. Require all staff to wear their hospital
photo ID. at chest level facing forward
9. Provide educational material to mothers and
family members.
10. Create an infant security committee to assist
in the evaluation if the mother/baby & pediatric unit.
NOTE:
Consult with a Healthcare Security Professional with expertise in infant
and pediatric security to assist you and your staff in developing the most
effective and cost efficient security program for your facility. In most cases, a security professional can
save the hospital considerably more money than would be spent on the
consultant’s fee.
IN THE NEWS
Woman
charged with taking infant - By Mike Koehler, Journal staff writer
A
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2003/08/19/news/local/b727fef7c49afd2a86256d87001902f1.txt
MOTHER / BABY MIX-UPS
108th CONGRESS
- 1st Session – H.R. 78
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act that would require hospitals
reimbursed under the Medicare system to establish and implement security
procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and mother /
baby mix-ups. Current language includes procedures for identifying all infant
patients in the hospital in a manner that ensures that it will be evident if
infants are missing from the hospital.
On-line resources
Vulnerability
Assessments - http://www.saione.com/services_vulnerability.htm
Sample Birthing Center
Assessment [Outline] - http://www.saione.com/sampleassessment.htm
Infant
Abductions: Preventing Future Occurrences - http://www.jcaho.org/about+us/news+letters/sentinel+event+alert/print/sea_9.htm
Sentinel
Event Policy And Procedures, Revised: July 2002
http://www.jcaho.org/accredited+organizations/behavioral+health+care/sentinel+events/se_pp.htm
Future Newsletter Topics
Parent Education
Essential
Components of a
“Self-Assessment”
How to conduct a
successful “Code Pink”
Educating Employees
and Staff
“Pros & Cons of an
Infant Protection System”
How to select an Infant Security Systems
Mother/Baby Mix-ups
“How to Prevent the Unthinkable”
Fallacy of Foot
Printing “A Thing of the Past”
Hospital Liability
“When to hire an Security Expert”
Emergency Department
Threats *Forensic Patient Practices
Disclaimer
Advice given in this "Newsletter" is general in nature, and
subscribers (readers of this material) should consult with professional counsel
for specific legal, ethical, or clinical advice. The
information provided in the SAI Newsletters is for educational purposes
only and should not be considered 'legal' advice. Websites listed
are for reference only and are provided for subscribers (readers of the
material) to have an opportunity to read the original documents in total.
Please consult your legal counsel or Compliance Officer for clarification of
laws and rules related to your State when applicable.
SAI is not affiliated with the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
SAI
- ©July 2003