Hospitals usually don’t come to mind when thinking of unsecure areas. However, health care workers are at risk of violence, vandalism and assault due to individuals with criminal intent, as well as hospitals being open 24/7 to the general public. This can cause psychological, as well as physical harm to healthcare workers and ultimately reduce the quality of care they are able to provide to patients. Because of this, it’s imperative for hospitals to find successful ways to reduce the risk of violence and protect their workforce.

To help hospitals take initiative to protect their employees, here are some ways they can achieve the goal of preventing criminal offenses in healthcare settings.

Continuous Employee Training and Awareness

Safety training for all employees of any organization should be top priority as an instilled policy. Healthcare workers should be provided with necessary training of how to understand universal precautions for violence, and how to spot any problems before they occur to diffuse the situation.

Proximity/Smart Cards

Smart cards can be an effective way to stop identity theft and fraud as they use security elements such as fingerprints or pictures for identification. Smart cards can better protect all employees from any dangerous activity occurring in the workplace.

Metal detectors

Metal detectors can not only detect potential weapons but also deter criminals away to begin with. They can also provide a sense of protection for employees entering as it proves their organization is doing what they can to keep everyone safe.

Video surveillance system

A video surveillance system is a cost-effective solution for increasing security at hospitals. By providing coverage of the premises, perimeter and parking lots, crime can be greatly decreased. Similar to metal detectors, if criminals see surveillance cameras outside the area of the hospital, they can be driven away as they would know they were being recorded.

Incident Documentation and Evaluation

Record-keeping is vital to the safety of any workplace. Many workplace incidents of violence are never recorded, but keeping a record of incidents and investigating them properly prevents them from repeating.

Organizational Support and participation

Employees will do what they can to stay safe, however, full organizational support of safety initiatives needs to occur in order to actually keep the workplace safe. Duties and responsibilities of all staff should be clearly delegated to ensure critical support is always available when needed.

Security Officers

incidents of violence can’t always be detected by employees, and the safety of both patients and employees is vital for the reputation and security of a hospital. Security officers can help prevent criminals from accessing the interior of hospitals to begin with, and can also monitor inside as well for better protection of individuals.