Physical Security in Hospitals - The Importance of Regular Risk Assessments

With the number of physical security threats rising, it’s imperative that

hospitals conduct frequent risk assessments to stay on top of vulnerabilities and incorporate the highest protections for patients, workers, and visitors.

Hospitals face unique challenges when it comes to physical security. As providers of emergency care and healing, they must balance accessibility with protection against violent threats. With the number of those threats rising over the last few years, it’s imperative that hospitals conduct frequent risk assessments to stay on top of vulnerabilities and incorporate the highest protections for patients, workers, and visitors.

Statistics on Violence Underscore the Need for Stronger Security Protocols

The incidence of violence in healthcare facilities is hitting alarming rates. Since just the beginning of the year, there have been 9 significant events across the country:

●       Deadly hostage shooting situation at UPMC Memorial in York, Pennsylvania

●       Nurse brutally beaten at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital

●       Second nurse attacked at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital a week later

●       Stabbing and two attacks at hospitals in Scranton, Pennsylvania

●       Shooting of an emergency room security guard in Arizona

●       Stabbing of a doctor and physician assistant in a Chicago emergency room

●       Violent attack on three nurses and a security guard in Pennsylvania

The open, welcoming design of hospitals inherently makes its population, especially workers, soft targets. Federal studies show that healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers overall, and the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety’s 2023 Healthcare Crime Survey revealed that simple assault on healthcare facility staff increased over three years from 10 incidents per 100 beds to 22 incidents.

The people that move through hospitals daily - such as patients in varying degrees of wellness and family members in emotional states - can create an environment where tensions run high and conflicts can easily erupt. Comprehensive physical security assessments are vital for identifying weaknesses in access control, surveillance systems, staff training, and emergency response protocols. These risk assessments better prepare hospitals for detecting and responding to threats in real time and de-escalating situations to minimize the risk of violence and other dangerous events.

Security in the Emergency Room

A hospital emergency room is a high traffic, high stress environment: people in need of care, family members in distress, and sometimes unstable individuals. While administration needs to allow quick access, it also must implement visitor management security measures, such as ID checks, visitor log-ins, and limiting visitation during high-risk times. Measures to manage aggressive behavior like panic buttons, clear communication protocols, and trained security staff are also key safety features. An assessment will assist administration in implementing proactive, layered security strategies to secure the emergency room and training hospital personnel to recognize potential threats and respond swiftly.

Vulnerability of Other Units

The situation at the hospital in York, Pennsylvania shines a light on the vulnerability of areas outside of the emergency room. The gunman went to the ICU and held multiple staff members hostage. He fired his gun, hitting a nurse, custodian, and doctor, and at one point he also held a staff member hostage at gunpoint. During an exchange of gunfire with the police, he shot three officers, one of whom died from his injuries.

The open visitor policy of hospitals and lack of locks on patient room doors opens everyone up to a violent attack. Robust physical security plans proactively work to prevent such incidents. An assessment will look at policies related to behavior safety plans, weapons checks, duress alarms, lockdown protocols, “see something, say something”, active shooter drills/training, safe rooms, and more.

Security of Nuclear Materials

Many hospitals use medical equipment that contains radioactive substances for imaging and cancer treatments. Such equipment poses threats for theft, violence, and contamination. Strict protocols ensure that these materials do not get into the wrong hands or cause a catastrophic event. During an assessment, security professionals review access control to special storage areas, monitoring protocols, surveillance systems, and response plans to identify weaknesses, ensure compliance, and bolster safety.

Emergency Response

A physical security assessment looks beyond prevention to broader emergency management plans. For example, many patients are non-ambulatory, unable to quickly exit in the event of a fire or natural disaster. How will you evacuate them? Do you have clear communication channels and procedures in place for alerting staff, patients, and visitors during an emergency? Have you clearly defined the roles and responsibilities of staff in an emergency? Do you regularly conduct training and drills? A physical security risk assessment will review all of this and more to enhance the safety of everyone within the hospital.

Continuous Improvement is Crucial

Hospitals are prime targets for a range of threats. Comprehensive physical security risk assessments are key to identifying areas of weakness within existing security plans, such as workplace violence, theft, natural disasters, and regulatory compliance, and establishing more robust, tailored security protocols to protect staff, patients, and visitors.