After a man intentionally crashed his car into the emergency room entrance of Middletown, Conn.-based Middlesex Hospital Feb. 22 and proceeded to set himself on fire, Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare is installing permanent barriers outside the entrances of several hospitals, according to the Record-Journal.
The health system installed temporary jersey barriers outside the emergency and main entrances across its campuses, including Meriden, Conn.-based MidState Medical Center, immediately after the Feb. 22 incident.
The temporary barriers will stand until permanent ones are installed as quickly as possible, said Patrick Turek, director of emergency management for Hartford HealthCare.
The barriers will help prevent vehicle-related incidents at Hartford HealthCare's key locations. The health system will use an annual risk assessment to determine which locations need these safety measures.
In addition to the barriers, Hartford HealthCare's emergency management and public safety departments are regularly conducting safety training and annual risk assessments, using feedback from staff. They also developed a threat assessment team.
As of Feb. 26, the Middlesex Hospital ER entrance is still closed, according to the Hartford Courant. The man who crashed his vehicle into the Middlesex ER died at Bridgeport (Conn.) Hospital March 1 after suffering severe burns, according to a New England Cable News report.
Editor's note: This article was updated on March 2 at 4:29 p.m. CT to reflect the man's status at Bridgeport Hospital.