Expert weighs in on preparedness at Boston-area hospitals after attacks in Tulsa, Los Angeles

BOSTON — The former chief nursing officer at Boston Medical Center joined Boston 25 News on Monday morning to discuss preparedness at local hospitals following recent attacks at medical facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles, California.

Lisa O’Connor, who now works for FTI Consulting as a senior managing director in the health solutions segment, believes hospitals need to prepare for the potential for tragic events by conducting active-shooter training drills.

O’Connor’s call for such drills comes after a gunman accused of killing his surgeon and three other people at a Tulsa medical office blamed the doctor for his continuing pain after a recent back operation and bought an AR-style rifle just hours before the rampage, according to police. Then just days later, a man walked into a Los Angeles emergency ward and stabbed a doctor and two nurses.