Dive Brief:
- A Muncie, Ind. hospital is forming its own police force in an effort to reduce the need to call outside agencies for help. Legislation signed into law last May allows the governing board of a hospital to establish its own police department.
- IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital will launch its police department April 3 at a swearing-in ceremony.
- The hospital already has a 37-member security team consisting of law enforcement officers from other agencies. To serve the new police department, every member will be required to go to the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
Dive Insight:
Though it doesn't always get a lot of publicity, hospitals can be dangerous places. If nothing else, personnel in the emergency department of a hospital can be forced to deal with violent, irrational mentally ill or drug-intoxicated persons. Increasing the professionalism of those who care for potentially dangerous patients -- or other intruders -- can only do the hospital good.