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Five tips to conquer your security risk assessment

Health Care Auditing Strategies, February 1, 2005

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Performing security risk assessments doesn't have to be overwhelming

Although the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requires hospitals to conduct a security risk assessment, it doesn't spell out the details of what's required in such an assessment. Most security directors and auditors would agree that the risk assessment is an important aspect of securing a facility.

"I think that it's prudent to do this [assessment] regardless of regulatory implications," says Kirk Walsh, assistant director of security, parking, and telecommunications for Wellstar Health System in Cobb County, GA. "If you're charged with securing a facility, then you need to do everything you can to stay current and maintain security. You need to know what's going on in all areas in order to protect them."

Although assessing your entire facility can be a daunting task, the easiest way to conquer this requirement is to make the review part of your annual evaluation, says Steve MacArthur, consultant for The Greeley Company, a division of HCPro, Inc., in Marblehead, MA. "You really shouldn't go more than three years without an assessment," MacArthur says. "Surveyors like to see this done regularly, and it's an effective and compelling part of your presentation."

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