Hospital shootings climb during 25-year period, study shows

Hospital shootings increased more than five-fold to 34 events per year from 2000 to 2024, underscoring the need for better prevention strategies, concludes a JAMA Network Open systematic review. Researchers said weapons screening could have prevented nearly one-third of the shootings. Shootings most often occurred in the parking lot or outdoor sites (45.6%), hospital floors (18%) and emergency departments (17.7%). Urban settings (96%) accounted for almost all shootings. Of the 189 individuals injured or killed, healthcare workers made up nearly a third of victims. The authors recommend hospitals implement weapons screening processes and participate in broader societal and community initiatives to address rising gun violence. (MedPage Today article, 5/5/26)