Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1516756
7 PATIENT SAFETY & OUTCOMES Cleveland Clinic confiscated 30K weapons in 2023: What to know By Alexis Kayser I n his Jan. 24 "State of the Clinic" address, Cleveland Clinic's president and CEO mentioned that the system confiscated 30,000 weapons from patients and visitors in 2023. Becker's reached out to Cleveland Clinic to learn more about this statistic. Here's what the system told us about its seizure and security efforts since Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD, gave his speech: • Although Cleveland Clinic has locations around the world, that 30,000 figure only represents weapons confiscated at U.S. facilities. Magnetometers have been installed in each of the system's emergency departments nationwide. • Any object that could be used as a weapon is confiscated when spotted by a magnetometer, according to the system. at includes household items like tools, scissors and pocket knives — the most commonly-confiscated object, which many people carry daily. • e system has found that most patients and visitors are "understanding" when objects are confiscated, and appreciate their efforts to maintain a safe environment. Objects that are not considered criminal can be returned upon their owner's exit. • Although Cleveland Clinic could not provide hard data regarding confiscation trends ("given [its] growth and the addition of new facilities as well as more comprehensive reporting"), a spokesperson shared that the number of confiscations has continued to increase year over year. • e system has noticed an increase in firearm seizures, though not a significant one, and attributes this to increased tracking measures across its enterprise. • Most of the time, people do not bring weapons to the hospital with ill intent. "Many times, people come to the hospital during or right aer an emergency and may have items on their person already — meaning they were likely not intending on bringing these items into the hospital," a spokesperson for the health system told Becker's. n The top safety measure for hospitals this year: Poll By Mariah Taylor This year, healthcare professionals are focused on patient and staff safety, a recent Becker's poll found. The poll, posted in mid-January, asked participants to vote on which measures their organizations are most focused on improving this year. Of 287 respondents, 53% identified patient and staff safety as their top goal, while 20% are focusing most on hospital acquired infections, 18% voted for wait times and 9% said "other." Becker's has no insights on respondents' organizations or roles. n Texas Children's leads in pediatric organ transplants for 7th year By Ashleigh Hollowell H ouston-based Texas Children's Hospital has performed 100 more transplants than any other pediatric hospital in the U.S. in the last decade. And 2023 was the seventh consecutive year the hospital has led in organ transplants. In 2023, the hospital performed 99 pediatric organ transplants, making it a leader in complex pediatric surgeries by a count of 14, according to a Jan. 29 news release. "To lead the nation in pediatric transplants for seven consecutive years is an outstanding achievement that wouldn't be possible without our amazing team," Larry Hollier, MD, surgeon-in-chief and chair of the Texas Children's Hospital Department of Surgery stated. "What makes that distinction even more meaningful is that our transplant outcomes are also among the best in the nation. Our multidisciplinary team of transplant experts ensures that patients receive best-in-class care through each step of the transplant process — transplant evaluation, surgery and lifelong follow-up care." n