Crime in the waiting room? If you call the cops, use caution

Article Overview

This article addresses a common office-management question for medical practices: what considerations arise when staff contemplate calling law enforcement about behavior observed in a waiting room. It explains the general privacy and liability concerns involved, why the situation may differ from protected clinical encounters, and why practices should be careful about what they report and how they communicate with third parties. The discussion is intended for practice staff, physicians, and administrators who handle front-office incidents.