Page 94 - Security Today, July/August 2022

Health Care Security
Accommodating Patients of All Abilities and Needs
Alongside staff satisfaction, there is an increased emphasis on accom- modating patients of all abilities and needs. In the study, the pan- demic and an increased focus on mental health were cited as key drivers for these shifts. To improve accessibility, the majority of hos- pitals updated doors to meet ADA compliance requirements over the last year. The most common changes in patient rooms, common areas and restrooms included changing doorknobs to levers and adding automatic door operators.
The conversation around mental health has shifted, and more people and organizations are prioritizing proper care and treatment. This shift is especially helpful for those seeking in-patient treatment at hospitals. More than half of health care professionals are experiencing an increase in patients requiring rooms with ligature resistant hardware, which is specifically designed to reduce the risk of strangulation and keep patients safe. Further, health care professionals are becoming more familiar with ligature resistant hardware compared to prior years. In addition to behavioral health areas, psych wards and emergency rooms continue to be areas with the greatest need for ligature resistant hardware.
Noise reduction is an important part of the healing environment. Patients often rank noise as a top complaint in Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys, which measure patient experiences. These surveys impact the reim- bursements that hospitals receive, which can be negatively impacted by loud machines, slamming doors, and other noise pollution that impacts the patient experience. Quiet hardware is designed with this in mind, to allow for quiet, non-disruptive use.
Familiarity with the impact of noise on patient satisfaction through the HCAHPS surveys increased slightly between 2016 and 2021. While not the top concern in hospitals currently, more than half are likely to adopt quiet hardware in the next five years.
Both ligature-resistant hardware and quiet hardware aim to create an effective healing environment. While these solutions may have started off to fulfill a niche need, they have become more widespread and important in this space. As priorities shift, this is an interesting trend to watch in the health care space.
Looking Ahead and Planning for the Future
To meet the demands of the evolving landscape and prepare for the future, health care industry leaders are implementing new security ini- tiatives. Looking ahead, we anticipate more hospitals will implement security technology and pursue projects which may have been put off over the last few years. In 2022, 55% of hospitals plan to standardize the purchase of door hardware and access control products. Additionally, 40% plan to expand their security plans in the next year, including projects related to key control, credentialing and ligature resistance.
Demands from patients and staff have continued to shape health care environments. Security continues to play a strong role in helping leaders better secure and protect their facilities and staff, create healthy environments and improve experiences for all occupants.
Melany Whalin is the demand generation manager for the healthcare and education markets at Allegion. She has been at Allegion for over 10 years with a focus on K-12, higher education and healthcare.
18 campuslifesecurity.com | JULY/AUGUST 2022