The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Justice (DOJ), along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), jointly released report titled; Incorporating Active Shooter Incident Planning into Health Care Facility Emergency Operations Plans.

Active Shooter Prevention and Response

We all know that an active shooter, as defined by the FBI as – An active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, can attack anywhere, including healthcare facilities (HCFs).

For several years these types of violent attacks have occurred in hospitals, medical centers, and other types of healthcare facilities (HCF). As a result, this new report will help security and emergency management personnel in a HCF to prepare around five mission areas which are: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.

Security Planning for Healthcare

Healthcare has had numerous challenges over the years when it comes to security incidents. They include an ever-growing number of violent incidents, drug diversions, domestic violence, theft, loss protected health information, and shootings. The shootings have been related to to domestic violence, gang activity, revenge, workplace violence, robbery, and even “Mercy” killings. With this newly released guide healthcare administrators, security, emergency management, and risk managers can now work from a comprehensive report when preparing their security and emergency management response to an active shooter threat or actual incident.

Best Practice for Active Shooter in Healthcare

This is a guide for your organization to use, and it is imperative that your organization develops your security best practice policy and plan to address the prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery for an active shooter incident as outlined within this report.

Read the Incorporating Active Shooter Incident Planning into Health Care Facility Emergency Operations Plans report here.