April 5, 2024- Vizient, Inc. released recommendations focused on mitigating common risks, identifying national guidelines and utilizing existing resources to ensure preparedness for an active shooter event. The recommendations were made by a task force of 40 Vizient network executives from 27 organizations across the country. The recommendations and rationales bring attention to organizational tactics that were found by the task force to be lacking or inconsistent. View active shooter preparedness resources.
The recommendations are based in part on the results of a recent Vizient provider customer health system survey that revealed disparities in active shooter protocols. While 98% of hospital system respondents said they have enacted an active shooter protocol, preparedness varied. Only 24% have discussed a dedicated plan to ensure continuity of care for critically ill patients.
Of those, very few use a “secure-preserve-defend” doctrine in which staff first prioritize locking down or barricading their patient care areas. The results of the survey are published in the American Journal of Disaster Medicine.
View a summary of the survey findings, Assessing Active Shooter Preparedness in U.S. Hospital Systems.