HCPro Survey: Most Hospitals Don't Have Plan Addressing Direct Attack

Business Wire, Dec 4, 2002

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

MARBLEHEAD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2002

Hospitals nationwide are not properly prepared to deal with a direct terrorist attack on their facilities, according to a survey conducted by HCPro, a company that helps train healthcare professionals in the area of disaster and bioterrorism preparedness. Of the 196 safety and security professionals surveyed, 57% say that their hospital plans do not address the possibility of terrorists using their facility as a primary target.

The survey followed recent FBI warnings indicating there was a potential terrorist threat against hospitals in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The threat warning was based on what the White House later called insufficient intelligence information. Although the White House downplayed the FBI warning, HCPro's survey indicates that hospitals need to be better prepared for this unthinkable scenario.

"Since the horrible events of 9/11, hospitals have worked furiously and effectively to better prepare their response to mass casualty incidents in their community," says Robert Croce, HCPro's Group Director of Training. "But it's clear from our survey that more training is needed when it comes to preparing hospitals as targets. I don't think we can operate anymore under the assumption that hospitals are unlikely to be attacked, and hospitals are telling us that they're definitely not prepared for that potentially tragic scenario."

According to the survey, hospitals are most vulnerable to direct terrorist attacks in locations such as the emergency department, general public access areas, loading/receiving docks, patient care units, and outpatient clinics. Following the FBI alert, 43% respond that they would immediately re-evaluate their hospital's physical plant from a security standpoint, 33% reveal that they will immediately meet with community agencies such as police, fire, and public health, and 26% indicate that they will examine their hospital's disease surveillance process. Just 6% of hospitals surveyed say they will put more security staff on duty.

The good news is that hospitals are better prepared to deal with anthrax attacks. Following last fall's anthrax incidents, 86% of those surveyed have a plan for immediately responding to a suspected anthrax incident at their facility.

The FBI issued the alert November 13 to the hospitals in the four major cities, citing the potential for bomb or anthrax attacks. The alert, which was picked up by major news organizations and then downplayed as unsubstantiated, said the attacks could take place around December 15.

To access the complete survey results, go to http://www.healthsafetyinfo.com/survey.cfm