RALEIGH, N.C. — Security can be complex when a medical center has to plan for attacks, such as the recent mass shooting at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, hospital that left four dead.

"It was over in four minutes, right? So these events happen very, very rapidly," said Barbara Bisset, executive director for preparedness and innovative learning at WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

What You Need To Know

  • Recent mass shootings across the country have prompted many hospitals to re-examine security measures

  • Wayne UNC Hospital in Goldsboro went into lockdown Sunday night after one person was shot and wounded in what authorities called a 'domestic situation'

  • WakeMed Health & Hospitals is examining its security processes and looking for ways it might improve

Bisset and her team at WakeMed see the tragic aftermath of recent shootings and look for ways to learn from them.

"We have to think of this in lots and lots of levels because it's individuals having situational awareness, it's equipment, it's law enforcement, it's multiple different factors for how do you have the safest environment possible," she said.

Bisset's interest in safety stems from her time as an emergency department trauma nurse in Chicago.

"We know that individuals coming to health care, most individuals are in some level of crisis and with crisis comes the escalation of some levels of behaviors," Bisset said.

Bisset says WakeMed's safety training and practices are constantly being discussed and improved. She says the hospital asks people not to bring concealed handguns inside, but acknowledges there can be challenges. 

"We assess on a very regular basis which doors are locked, which doors are not locked, how we do our screenings, but quite honestly it's a challenge when you have hundreds and sometimes thousands of people moving through your building," she said.

Bisset notes that weapons aren't just guns.

"They can be anything in a room you can pick up and throw. It can be glass on a picture frame that you break and take the shard of glass. It can be an IV pole," Bisset said.

Bisset says the goal is to make sure the hospital environment is safe and healing, and they will continue to strive for that.

"Everyone that comes into the building feels that they're in a safe place, and we're doing everything that we humanly possibly can do. It's never perfect, but we really want to do everything possible," she said.

Bisset says the hospital has invited and encouraged all of its staff to give input about WakeMed's safety and security. From that response, she says the hospital will develop an action plan to see what improvements may be needed.

Right now, Bisset says WakeMed has policies, plans, checklists and training for security. The health care system also has trained response teams and armed officers.