Healthcare Trends - The Importance of Improved Physical Security Measures in Healthcare Facilities to Tackle Workplace Violence

Healthcare facilities are essential places that offer medical services and care for people in need. However, with the rise of workplace violence, healthcare workers and patients' safety is becoming a growing concern. According to the an international research, healthcare workers are four times more likely to experience violence than workers in other industries. Therefore, it is crucial to implement improved physical security measures to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

The Risks of Workplace Violence in Healthcare Facilities 

Workplace violence can take many forms, from verbal abuse to physical assault. Patients, visitors, and staff can be the perpetrators or victims of violence. Workplace violence can lead to physical harm, emotional distress, decreased productivity, and a negative workplace environment. Therefore, acting decisively has become a priority. But how can healthcare organisations do this in a controlled manner?

Most healthcare facilities have some physical security measures in place, such as:

• Security personnel
• Access control
• Video surveillance
• Panic buttons
• Alarms

While these measures are useful, they may not be sufficient to prevent workplace violence and protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

To combat the rising threat of workplace violence, healthcare facilities need to implement improved physical security measures that are more effective, efficient, and integrated. One such solution is the Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) system, such as Entelec's Sky-Walker Open Integration Platform.

“Healthcare workers are four times more likely to experience violence than workers in other industries”

Entelec’s Sky-Walker Open Integration Platform is a PSIM system designed to provide a comprehensive approach to security management by integrating multiple security systems into one platform. Here are some of the benefits of Sky-Walker:

Centralised management: The platform integrates video surveillance, access control, alarm management, and incident reporting systems into one central platform, making it easier to manage and monitor the security of healthcare facilities.

Early threat detection: The platform has advanced analytical capabilities that can detect unusual patterns or behaviours, which can be early indicators of potential threats. This helps security personnel take preventive measures before an incident occurs, mitigating the risk of workplace violence.

Quick response: With real-time monitoring and alert notifications, healthcare facilities can respond quickly to security incidents, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their staff and patients.

Open architecture: The platform's open architecture design allows for easy integration with other third-party security systems, making it a flexible and scalable solution for healthcare facilities of all sizes.

A hospital in a major city was experiencing an increase in workplace violence incidents. They decided to implement the Sky-Walker Open Integration Platform to improve their physical security measures. The platform helped the hospital achieve the following benefits:

Improved situational awareness: The platform integrated video surveillance and access control systems to provide real-time monitoring and alert notifications of potential security incidents. This allowed hospital staff to quickly respond to incidents and prevent them from escalating.

Enhanced security response: The platform's open architecture design allowed for easy integration with the hospital's existing security systems, including their emergency response systems. This streamlined their security response process, reducing response times and increasing the effectiveness of their response.

Cost savings: By integrating their various security systems into one platform, the hospital was able to save on costs associated with managing multiple disparate systems. They also saved on staffing costs by streamlining their security response process.

Improved physical security measures are crucial to combat the rising threat of workplace violence in healthcare facilities. By implementing comprehensive security solutions such as Entelec's Sky-Walker Open Integration Platform, healthcare facilities can better protect their staff and patients from potential security threats. The benefits of the platform include centralised management, early threat detection, quick response, and open architecture. With the ability to integrate multiple security systems into one platform, healthcare facilities can improve situational awareness, enhance security response, and save on costs. Ultimately, the safety and security of healthcare workers and patients are paramount, and improved physical security measures are a necessary step to ensure it.

Is your healthcare facility in dire need of safety and security enhancements? Request your free live demo now and discover what the power of Sky-Walker means for your organisation!

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