Accelerate active shooter preparedness
Protect your patients and staff with proactive security, compassionate care, and crisis management.
Balance patient safety and care in a complex environment
A proactive plan reduces patient harm and sustains operations. Together, we transform insights into a unified approach for active shooter preparedness.
Healthcare active shooter preparedness requires balancing patient safety and care in the complex healthcare setting. A proactive plan incorporating security, compassionate care and crisis management is needed to reduce patient harm and medical operations.
Leaders from Vizient Networks Medical Executive Network surveyed healthcare organizations regarding active shooter response. Several organizational tactics were found to be lacking or inconsistent. The Network issued a call to action to address these vulnerabilities. A task force of 40 people from 27 Vizient member organizations developed Safeguarding Healthcare: Active Shooter Preparedness Resources and recommendations to help hospitals mitigate common risks, identify national guidelines and prepare for such situations.
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Built by the field, for the field
Leaders from the Vizient Networks Medical Executive Network produced these resources to address a growing threat.
Active shooter events in 2023
The rising frequency of events makes proactive preparedness essential. These resources equip your organization to respond decisively.
A framework for preparedness
Prepare your people and protect your organization across every phase of an active shooter event.
Effective communication is the cornerstone between chaos and safety during an active shooter event. Clear, swift communication channels enable timely information sharing, guide law enforcement response, and empower individuals to seek safety and assist others. Recommendations cover the type of language to use when broadcasting an event, internal and external communication protocols, and the critical connection to emergency first responders and law enforcement.
Physical security measures serve as the first line of defense in an active shooter situation. Robust protocols — including access control, fortified barriers, and designated safe zones — delay or deter an attacker while enabling a structured, coordinated response. Recommendations focus on building design considerations such as limited access and metal detectors, access management systems, and mitigation efforts including designated safe rooms.
A well-rehearsed, comprehensive response plan is essential to minimizing casualties and ensuring individual safety. Tailored to your specific environment, regular drills and training equip staff with the knowledge to act decisively. Recommendations cover plan construction and activation, evacuation procedures, sheltering strategies, and communication protocols — and critically, preparedness for hemorrhage control as a key element of every healthcare organization's response plan.
Practicing drills and simulations is a vital rehearsal that can make a life-saving difference in a crisis. Immersive, realistic scenarios familiarize individuals with emergency procedures and sharpen decision-making under pressure. Regular drills bridge the gap between theory and execution, reducing panic and maximizing safety. Recommendations cover planning and preparation, executing simulations in a healthcare setting, and how to conduct a thorough debrief and review after every drill.
The aftermath of an active shooter event demands a comprehensive recovery approach that extends beyond physical healing. Post-event recovery addresses emotional, psychological, and communal impact through trauma-informed care, counseling, and targeted resources. Recommendations focus on restoring safety, rebuilding confidence, and fostering resilience — with particular attention to post-traumatic stress, employee wellbeing, and building a culture of collective responsibility that strengthens response to any event.
Actionable intelligence
Empower your team with proven safety strategies
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