Why Hospital Security Services are Essential for Patient Safety

In recent years, hospital security has been a major concern for 75% of hospital administrators. In 2023, we firmly believe that a security company will be the most helpful in addressing your safety worries. 

Meeting the requirements of both patients and healthcare workers has made hospital safety and security paramount in recent times. To protect patients, hospital administration must identify those who pose a very high risk of criminal behavior. These illegal actions require immediate intervention because they may involve theft, assault, or other serious crimes. 

Several precautions are taken to ensure the safety of the premises at all times, one of which is the hiring of reliable hospital security services in California.

Understanding Armed Security Guards

Trained security guards who carry weapons while on the job are known as armed security guards. To cope with any dangers and handle firearms responsibly, training is done thoroughly. By discouraging criminal behavior, armed guards can help reduce response times to crises.

Armed security guard services

An armed security guard service is a strong answer to security and crime concerns; it gives people and businesses more protection, less anxiety, and a better feeling of safety.

1. Making Crime Less Likely

When there is an armed security worker around, it’s clear that bad behavior like attack, vandalism, and theft are not allowed.

Criminals might be less likely to break in if there is someone on the property who is trained and ready to move quickly and strongly if they see something dangerous.

2. More safety measures

Security guards who are protected by armed officers go through a lot of training to make sure that people and property are safe.

They are ready to face security risks head-on because they know how to use weapons, defend themselves, and handle a situation.

3. A Better Education

Security guards who carry guns get a lot of training on top of what the law requires. This class goes over a lot of different security themes, like how to recognize a threat, what to do in an emergency, and the laws and rules that govern the use of force. Guards with guns are better able to handle a wider range of security situations.

4. Emergency Response

Armed guards are ready to act quickly and effectively in any situation, whether it’s a medical emergency, a natural disaster, or a crime.

One important skill that can help keep people safe and hurt in dangerous situations is their team’s ability to quickly assess the situation and react to sudden changes.

5. Better Protection for Priceless Items

There must be armed security guards to protect intellectual property, money, goods, and other important things.

An armed guard can keep things safe and secure so that theft doesn’t happen and people who aren’t supposed to be there can’t get to things.

6. Cutting down on violent incidents

In many places, like public areas, companies, and residential areas, having an armed security guard around can make violent events less likely.

They make the setting safer for everyone by being proactive about security and being able to respond quickly to any threats.

7. Having more confidence

People who work, visit, or live on protected sites feel safer when armed security officers are around.

People who know that skilled people are looking out for their safety and things can focus on what they need to do without being interrupted.

8. Peace of Mind

Armed security guards can be hired by businesses and people who are worried about possible risks.

Armed guards are a reliable way to keep people who own businesses, or homes, or are part of groups that want to keep their members safe.

Essential Functions of a Hospital’s Security Service

Monitoring and Control of Access

From a security standpoint, the entrance and departure points of hospitals are among the most crucial. They are used daily by thousands of people, including patients, their families, physicians, and hospital employees. Patients’ and employees’ safety is paramount, thus it’s crucial to keep an eye on who gets inside the building. Hospital security services ensure that only authorized individuals are allowed entry to designated areas. The lobby and reception area are open to guests, although guards are stationed in the restricted sections to deter theft.

Hospitals can benefit from having security guards stationed at the entrance and exit to assist with patient and visitor screening, identification, and badge issuance. In this approach, they can maintain vigilance and deliver superior client service. Security services for hospitals safeguard patients and the hospital’s valuable assets by preventing illegal access.

Ensuring a Risk-Free Setting

Patients require a secure setting in which to recuperate, and hospitals provide just that. Hospitals often employ security guards to keep calm and prevent criminal acts. They do rounds of the hospital and its surrounding areas regularly. No one will be tempted to enter and cause any kind of disturbance because of this.

When an emergency occurs at a hospital, the guards are prepared to react quickly and efficiently. In doing so, they protect patients, employees, and visitors from danger, which includes disruptions and suspicious activities. A soothing environment is fostered by their proactive attitude to hospital safety.

Minimizing Tensions and Resolving Conflicts

Security personnel at healthcare facilities must be adept at de-escalating volatile situations and mediating disputes. One of the primary responsibilities of a hospital security guard is to facilitate communication between patients and medical professionals. Professionalism and composure under pressure are skills they honed throughout their extensive training. Security guards in hospitals mediate disputes between patients, visitors, and employees and keep them from escalating into physical altercations. They contribute to a secure and pleasant hospital environment by maintaining order and encouraging harmony.

Support and Services for Customers

Contrary to popular belief, hospital security officers are also responsible for assisting patients and offering emotional support in addition to preventing criminal acts. As they fret about loved ones, most hospital visitors become disoriented; security personnel may alleviate this problem by pointing them in the right route. They won’t even have to leave their place to provide basic assistance and answer basic queries. The general satisfaction of both patients and visitors will be enhanced as a result of this. The helpful and kind attitude of the hospital security staff makes patients and visitors feel welcome and secure, which in turn improves the reputation of the healthcare facilities.

Emergency Response and Fire Watch

A hospital should not have to worry about the possibility of a fire. There is a great deal of equipment and chemicals that are extremely combustible here. It would only take one arsonist to disrupt the hospital’s operations. Hospital security guards should keep an eye out for this kind of treatment delay because it might have an impact on patients.

Hospital security services conduct routine patrols and inspections to identify and address fire hazards. In the event of a fire, the guards are prepared to respond swiftly and assist occupants in evacuating the building. Additionally, healthcare security services staff guarantee the safety of all individuals. The safety and preparedness of the hospital are ensured by the guards through regular fire drills and their knowledge of emergency procedures.

Looking into Incidents and Submitting Reports

While there are external risks that hospitals face, patient conduct is a key concern. That’s why hospital security guards must keep detailed records and conduct thorough investigations. There are times when a security guard is necessary to de-escalate a situation, physically detain a patient, or prevent a patient from harming themselves, personnel, or other patients.

Theft, vandalism, suspicious activity, and aggressive patient conduct are all thoroughly documented by hospital security officers in their reports. For reasons of law, insurance claims, and security, these reports are vital. As part of their investigation, guards speak with potential witnesses, gather evidence, and collaborate with medical professionals and authorities. Their meticulous approach guarantees that events are handled appropriately, resulting in a safer environment at the hospital.

Safeguarding Hospital Property

Important hospital resources, including pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and private patient records, are safeguarded by hospital security personnel. They prevent damage, theft, and unwanted entrance by monitoring security cameras. To further ensure the safety of all assets, guards routinely patrol warehouses and equipment rooms. They play a crucial role in protecting the hospital’s investments and making sure that resources may be used for patient care.

Staff-Law Enforcement Cooperation

The hospital security guards play a crucial role as mediators between the personnel and the law enforcement agencies. After a crime or event, law enforcement officials often contact security personnel first. They are important for keeping responses organized, providing information, and bolstering investigations. Through close collaboration with medical experts, security guards ensure that occurrences are addressed appropriately and promptly. By mediating between the medical center and the police, you enhance coordination and cooperation, which in turn increases the level of safety and security for everyone.

The Top Security Concerns in Healthcare Facilities

When looking at the amount of reported crimes in hospitals from 2020 to 2022, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation’s (IAHSS) 2022 Crime Survey revealed a 47% rise. Safe and secure environments are what hospitals are famous for. But every day, hospitals face a plethora of safety hazards. Hospitals are notoriously chaotic and congested, which may lead to a host of security concerns. Because of this, hospital security guards are quite important. Read on to learn about the most typical security risks and how hiring a guard service might mitigate them.

1. Vehicles Involved in Forced Entry

Just in hospital parking lots this year, over a hundred automobiles have been broken into. There has been an uptick in the frequency of vehicle break-ins at healthcare facilities. Both inside and outside of the hospital, security personnel are required. To break into victims’ cars and take their belongings, criminals circle the parking lots. Over seventy automobiles belonging to hospital employees and patients were stolen into in a single night by a gang of criminals who broke into the parking lot. Hiring a security guard service to patrol the hospital parking lots and keep patients’ cars safe is a smart move. In addition, they can conduct security surveys to find vulnerabilities and evaluate the security measures and tools used by the facility to figure out how to stop this problem from happening again.

2. Violence Against Healthcare Workers

Concerns about the safety of medical staff are another prevalent security problem in hospitals. Compared to workers in other sectors, healthcare professionals have a fivefold higher risk of experiencing workplace violence. Violence against healthcare workers has been on the rise during the last four years. When patients or visitors physically or verbally attack medical workers, it is considered violence. When patients or visitors physically assault medical personnel, they may punch, kick, or shove them. Substantial mental health issues or past trauma may be the driving forces behind such violent acts. Members of the same family who are grieving have resorted to violent behavior in other assault instances. Hospital Security services are important because, although most incidents of verbal and physical assaults are reactions to stressful events or mental illness, it is nevertheless important to protect healthcare workers.

3. Armed robberies

More than 20 people have died in gun violence at hospitals since 2022, and hundreds of assailants have been active targets in healthcare facilities throughout that time. There have been most hospital shootings in patient rooms, the emergency department, and the area around the parking lot. Although hospitals have implemented metal detectors to curb gun violence, there are still troubling methods by which individuals are getting firearms into the facility, posing a significant security risk to medical staff, patients, and their families.

4. Property Theft

Internal theft is another typical security risk in healthcare facilities. These problems arise because many hospitals do not have adequate security measures in place. Nobody takes the theft of patient or hospital property lightly; it’s a major concern. The incidence of patient property theft is estimated by the IAHSS to be eight per one hundred patient beds. There has been an uptick in patients reporting lost stuff valued between $10,000 and $10,000 after checking into the hospital. Additionally, instances of lost medical equipment do occur. Medical personnel are a common target for those who steal patient records and resell them online. Even professional criminals have been known to break into hospitals in search of valuable medical equipment. An excellent strategy for reducing instances of theft in healthcare facilities is to have security personnel primarily responsible for loss prevention and video surveillance.

In summary

There was a 63% rise, from 2011 to 2018, in the frequency of injuries caused by violent attacks on medical workers. That’s not even scratching the surface; hospitals continue to face risks such as theft, vandalism, and aggressive patients. Because of this, hospital security guards are crucial and even essential in modern times, particularly in states like California, where a great deal of medical facilities treat millions of people.

Here on the blog, we have given you a brief rundown of the duties of hospital security officers. We have covered what they do and how hospital security contributes to a secure setting.

Security Base Group is a trusted name in the industry when it comes to hospital security guards. They provide a diverse team of experts who have a history of offering first-rate hospital security services and would be an asset to your organization. We can assist you with safeguarding your facility if you consult with us now.

Questions and Answers

1. Why do hospitals need qualified security guards?

By swiftly responding to security threats and maintaining the premises secure, trained security guards at hospitals guarantee the protection of patients, staff, and visitors.

2. What training do hospital security guards receive?

Specialized training in CPR, first aid, conflict mediation, and emergency response is provided to hospital security officers. Additionally, they have received specialized training to deal with medical crises and patient confidentiality, both of which are common in healthcare facilities.

3. How do professional hospital security guards help?

Increased trust among patients and employees, less violence and theft, and better overall safety are all outcomes of hospitals with qualified security guards.

4. How do hospital security guards help patients?

When it comes to patient care, security guards are crucial because they ensure that patients can receive medical treatment in a safe setting. Furthermore, they aid in disease containment by limiting access to restricted areas to authorized personnel only.

5. Do hospital guards carry guns?

Even while hospital security guards don’t usually carry weapons, they are well-versed in both force and non-violent techniques for de-escalating potentially dangerous situations. When further help is needed, they are also in regular contact with the police.

6. Can hospitals outsource security?

A lot of healthcare facilities indeed use outside firms to handle their security needs. These businesses make sure that their security guards get healthcare-specific training.