Primary Reason for Hospital Violence
Patients and associated family members or visitors are the most common instigators of violence in emergency rooms. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, there has been quite an increase in emergency department violence.
The organization says the primary reason is an overall increase in societal violence today. This includes:
- increased presence of gangs, particularly in urban, inner-city settings
- prolonged waits for patients seeking medical care, sometimes compounded by unpleasant waiting room environments
- 24-hour accessibility
- increased prevalence of drug and alcohol use in society
- use of emergency departments for "medical clearance" of drug- and alcohol-related arrests
- unavailability of acute psychiatric treatment, so emergency department provides "psychiatric clearance"
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2-6. What is a primary cause of hospital violence in emergency rooms?
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