Page 36 - Security Today, March/April 2023

Using Modern Technology Workplace violence is a growing, serious challenge in hospitals
By John Joyce
Workplace violence is a
coordinating with stakeholders for better threat prevention and response.
serious and growing
challenge for many or-
ganizations — includ-
MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE
ing those in the health-
Speed of intervention is critical when there is a potential threat. One powerful and im- care industry. According to the Bureau of
portant tool to mitigate workplace violence Labor Statistics, workers in healthcare and
social services experience the highest rates
is the introduction of a modern, unified physical security platform to allow security of injuries caused by workplace violence
teams to quickly and efficiently identify inci- and are five times as likely to suffer a work-
place violence injury than workers overall —
dents of concern and respond appropriately. Unified security systems mean opera- and aggressive incidents are rising.
tors in control centers can easily leverage A survey of global health organiza-
tions found that almost 60% had seen
multiple sources to see different angles and understand different aspects of an incident. an increase in reported cases of violence
This makes investigating and responding against staff during the pandemic. This
ranged from verbal or physical aggression
to incidents quicker. Data from multiple cameras, access points, and other relevant to property damage or loss due to destruc-
sources display together in one interface. tion or theft of assets, to obstruction of
care. In most cases, the main sources of
Instead of looking up video footage in one system, and access control logs on an- violence were patients or their loved ones.
other screen, security operators can view In response to these escalating threats
within the workplace, many health or-
intrusion reports on an intuitive map and quickly access any related data from con- ganizations are ramping up security,
nected sensors, cameras or other devices. implementing procedures to ensure bet-
ter reporting and monitoring of violent
Within the same software, operators can lock or unlock doors, alert security teams, incidents, and providing training in de-
locate security devices, activate devices or escalation techniques. They are also pay-
ing more attention to risk assessment and
initiate escalation protocols, facilitating quicker responses to de-escalate violent or mitigation, enhancing accountability, and
stressful situations to better protect staff, patients and visitors.
Some platforms also offer mobile apps so that guards can tap into powerful soft- ware features while on the go. If dispatched, they can turn their cell phone into a camera so they can feed video back to the security operations center, for example.
Adding standard operating proce- dures (SOPs) to a unified digital platform can create systematic workflows for these types of incidents and events. This reduces guesswork about how to respond to follow all necessary steps to de-escalate violence or trigger contingency plans.
IMPROVING DOCUMENTATION
A unified security platform also stream- lines the creation and escalation of in- cident reports, even allowing guards or security operations center staff to open a report in real time, so they do not have to wait to re-tell the story.
Many hospitals are still using paper in- cident reports. Without a unified system to report and track incidents of violence, ad- ministrators and local authorities may un- derestimate the scope and scale of threats to staff and patients.
Systematically documenting details of every violent incident is important to iden- tify trends. For example, you may learn that several incidents involve the same perpetrators, or that violent incidents hap- pen more often in certain places. Armed with this knowledge, your security team can take action for additional protection; training or resources are most needed.
Information on violent incidents must be shared with decision-makers to ensure that resources are made available to re- spond appropriately to threats. Selecting a unified security platform that includes evidence-sharing features makes the over- all process more efficient and secure.
Incidents that are more serious may re- quire the involvement of law enforcement or other authorities, and then digitized reports are created within a unified security platform and are easy to share. They are also more se- cure than paper reports or evidence shared via email or memory card. Configured soft-
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MARCH/APRIL 2023 | SECURITY TODAY
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HOSPITAL SECURITY