A hostage situation at a Pennsylvania hospital resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to five other individuals, underscoring the escalating violence against healthcare workers in the United States and the difficulties in securing their safety.
The incident involved 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel-Ortiz, who entered the intensive care unit of UPMC Memorial Hospital in York County armed with a firearm and zip ties. Following his actions, which included taking hospital personnel hostage, he was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement. Among the injured were a doctor, a nurse, a custodian, and two additional officers.
Authorities have reported that officers shot at Archangel-Ortiz while he was brandishing a weapon at a female staff member whose hands were bound. Interestingly, he had previously visited the hospital for medical assistance involving another person, which suggests he may have intentionally targeted the facility, as per insights from the York County district attorney.
Dick Sem, a specialist in hospital security consulting, noted an unsettling trend in violence within healthcare settings. This surge is often seen in emergency rooms but is also affecting areas like maternity wards and intensive care units. Sem reported, “Many people are more confrontational, quicker to become angry, quicker to become threatening.” He recounted conversations with numerous nurses who shared stories of daily harassment.
While the motives behind Archangel-Ortiz’s actions remain unclear, healthcare workers have reported a significant rise in aggressive behavior from the public, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sem pointed out that in incidents occurring in hospitals, attackers often have a personal agenda, targeting specific individuals due to grievances, perhaps involving a death in the family.
Megan Foltz, a nurse at WellSpan Health nearby, highlighted her longstanding concerns about workplace safety over her nearly two-decade career. She explained, “In the critical care environment, of course there’s going to be heightened emotions. People are losing loved ones. There can be gang violence, domestic violence, or even intoxicated individuals.”
Beyond their personal safety, nurses also worry about the well-being of their patients during violent incidents. Foltz added, “If you step away from a bedside to run, to hide, to keep safe, you’re leaving your patient vulnerable.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost three-quarters of nonfatal assaults against workers in the private sector during 2021 and 2022 occurred among healthcare and social assistance employees, a rate that is over five times the national average.
Recent incidents of violence involving healthcare workers include a man shooting two corrections officers in an Idaho hospital last year while attempting to free a gang member. In 2023, a gunman killed a security guard and injured another staff member at a hospital in Portland, Oregon, and an attack in an Atlanta medical center resulted in a death and multiple injuries.
This wave of gun-related violence has challenged hospitals and medical facilities in the U.S., forcing them to develop new safety protocols. Increasingly, hospitals are adopting measures like metal detectors and pre-screening visitors at entrances.
Many healthcare workers express disbelief after being targeted during violent incidents. Sem emphasized that training is vital in helping staff recognize potential threats. He noted, “More than half of these incidents I’m aware of showed some early warning signs.” He emphasized the importance of reporting such indicators to ensure safety within healthcare environments.
“If nobody reports it, then you don’t know until the gun appears,” Sem added, underscoring the critical connection between awareness and safety in workplaces like hospitals.
