HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 08-12 Violent attach at Maplewood Hospital promps demand for more security KMSP ' 1 attack rompts demand for more security - KMSP-T�
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Posted:Aug 12,2015 11:41 AM CDT
Updated:Aug 12,2015 11:41 AM CDT
by Rob Oison CONNECT
MAPLEWOOD,Minn.(KMSP)- Last November,a patient at St.John's Hospital in Maplewood,Minn.went on
a violent rampage,surveillance video capturing the attack of 4 nurses with a metal bar ripped from Charles
Logan's hospital bed.
Logan,68,eventually ran out of the hospital and deputies tried to use a Taser on him.He was placed in
handcuffs,and moments later,was unresponsive.He was brought back to the hospital,but was already
dead.Police said Logan was delusional,paranoid and thought people were trying to kill him.
Now,more than a year later,security officers at HealthEast hospitals are meeting in St.Paul to demand safe
staffing on Wednesday.
"On Wednesday,security officers at HealthEast hospitals will demand a conversation with management about
safe staffing,"said Kyle McGinn,a security officer at Bethesda Hospital in an AFSCME news release.
"Patients,visitors and hospital staff are at risk because security is so short staffed.Assaults like the incident at
St.John's could potentially be prevented if security professionals are properly staffed and trained.IYs our goal
to provide a safe environment where staff can work,patients can heal,and families can visit-without fear of
getting hurt. Right now,we can't realize that goal."
According to the release,there are two security officers on duty at each of the 4 HealthEast hospitals,one in
the emergency room and another outside,"but often iYs risky with only one officer working alone."
Two of the nurses injured in the assault were hospitalized—one with a collapsed Iung.Another nurse,who did
not require hospitalization,was 8 months pregnant.