Preventing and Responding to Active Shooter Situations in Healthcare

This session will examine the growth of active shooter situations, review the factors that should be understood in factors found that contribute to the healthcare setting being a potential target, and how to mitigate the risk and in the worst-case scenario respond in the most effective manner.

The first section of the session will identify and review a wide array of preventive strategies and tactics that could help reduce the likelihood of an occurrence. This will include both identified threats that are directed at a specific target (person or department) as well as threats to the general healthcare setting.

Mitigating aspects that will be covered include:

• Identifying and assessing known threats in an ongoing manner
• Utilizing a proven threat assessment process to drive specific preventative actions
• Developing strategies for ongoing monitoring and assessment

The second portion of the session will focus on the importance of well-defined training components that support all aspects of the program. This will include identifying the specific response program, training methods, and delivery methods to ensure each caregiver is familiar with everything they need to do in recognizing and reporting situations, following all directives during a real situation, how those tasked with assessing, monitoring, and documenting activities and their respective roles in debriefing all drills and actual situations.

In the third part of the session, we will review the importance of a strong communication plan to support active shooter prevention and real-time response to an actual event. Like the training component, the importance of establishing a regular cadence to ensure that the program is not a “one and done, but rather all information needed by caregivers is kept front of mind for the maximum potential of success in both preventing and responding to these situations.

The fourth component will identify resources that should be incorporated by any organization developing an active shooter prevention program. These will include a quick review of Standards and Guidelines developed and published by both ASIS International and IAHSS (International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety). Time will be allotted at the end for a Q and A component.

• Introduce participants to the history of the dynamic of active shooters including which businesses have experienced the occurrences
• Identify the factors that may make the healthcare setting an attractive target
• Understanding the importance and tactics to identify potential threats, assess them, and implement processes to monitor situations
• Reviewing the importance of and components of a regularly cadenced training program for all caregivers that teaches them their role in both the preventive and response elements of an active shooter situation
• Identifying key elements of a thorough and consistent internal communication program that supports all elements of the program
• Identify key resource materials in the form of Standards and Guidelines promulgated by professional security associations that should be included in the individual participant’s program
• Allow for a reasonable Q and A section with an opportunity for participants to contact the presenter, off-line, if time does not permit for all individual questions to be addressed.

• Elements of active shooter incident response planning with guidance
• Common behaviors, conditions, and situations associated with active shooter events – warning signs
• Identify potential workplace violence indicators
• Threat assessment
• Incorporating key elements of successful incident management into planning efforts including:
  • Communication and incident planning for employees
  • Emergency action plan development
  • Recognizing behavioral indicators
  • Coordinating with first responders
• Maintaining staff confidence with proven strategies
• Live Q&A session.

• Healthcare Executives
• Human Resource Leaders
• Risk Managers
• Front-Desk Office Staff
• Healthcare Security Leaders (Managers, Directors, VPS)
• Physicians
• Nurses
• Non- Physician Practitioners
• Safety and Security Officers
• Medical Officers
• Practice Managers
• Safety Manager
• Compliance Officers
• Hospital Staff
• Front Line Healthcare Workers Who Interact with Potentially Angry Patients
• Representative Leaders of Departments Known to have Volatility (ED, ICU, Behavioral Health)
• Representatives of Senior Leadership of the Organization (COO, Senior Finance).