Hospital Security
What comes across your mind if you hear the word ‘hospital’? Doctors, nurses, and administration clerks, are likely the answer to this question. Have you ever thought about hospital security guards? In order to provide safety for patients and visitors, there are some convincing reasons for having security guards at hospitals.
Health and Safety
Hospital management is not solely committed to maintaining the health of patients. Instead, it is also accountable for the safety of patients, staff, and the general public. Due to an increase of incidents in recent times, hospital security has become an essential part of today’s world.
Hospital security have standard security guards, yet, they are trained to better to be more effective. Having their eyes dedicated to observing those who are coming and going from a hospital, can make a significant difference in the noticeable amount of crime or suspicious actions.
A hospital is an environment typically vulnerable to acts of violence and theft. Such occurrences can have a significant impact patient safety. Hospital security guards are trained to monitor cameras, patrol corridors and the perimeter, and respond to hospital codes. As they are responsible for mitigating and neutralizing threats. They have the capability to detect problems inside the hospital and handle them accordingly.
Handling a Code White Situation
In the psychiatric ward, some patients may experience a mental health issue that leads them to hurt themselves and others. This is where hospital security guards are required to handle the situation, with the code white response.
A code white response is proposed for a type of situation, whereas a patient is behaving in a potentially harmful manner towards themselves or others. In this situation, a hospital security guard can perform non-violent crisis prevention and intervention, as well as implementing restraints; to ensure everyone’s safety.
Performing De-Escalation Tactics
We acknowledge that a Hospital is intended to be a treatment center. However, there are times when panic and chaos ensues. For example, all patients in the emergency room, require priority care and treatments, more than those in other wards. For this reason, there is likely a family member who might lose self-control, when demanding for quick treatment for a patient. In situations such as these, de-escalation tactics or “verbal judo” are a proven effective measure to reduce violence and injuries.
In this circumstance, trained security guards will engage calmly and communicate with an “anxious” client to understand, cope, and resolve their worries. Eventually, these actions are likely to decrease the client’s anxiety and the possibility of future violence or ferocity.
Wrapping Up
Hospital security guards are essential to be present in hospitals, at all times 24/7/365. The main reason is clear; these trained guards are the ones who keep the entire hospital a safe place for the patients, medical staff, and the general public.
In fact, the hospital staff will feel more comfortable and safer to do their jobs, even for overnight shifts, when hospital security guards are in place.
Nevertheless, preserving hospital security should be one of the main priorities for hospital management. Thus, investing in extensive training, up-to-date equipment, and educational courses such as CPI - is best way to do so.