• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

How much security do you need?

Healthcare Security Weekly, March 28, 2004

Determining the amount of security you need in your facility is tricky.

The amount of security you need depends on how well your security plan is assimilated into the hospital culture. Security directors must look at the physical plant, the polices and procedures, hospital employee security awareness, and how many non-security functions your staff performs.

Consider the following when determining your staffing levels:

• Analyze the type of structure you are securing. Determine the amount of time it takes a person to travel between locations remote from each other. Common sense will dictate a reasonable amount of time required to respond to an emergency.
• Determine the number and location of entrances and exits to the hospital, including one with limited access.
• Determine the number of available parking spaces. Parking enforcement is paramount to good security. Enforcement is made easier with a policy that defines parking assignments.
• Determine the number of patient rooms and the general mix of the patient population. More staff is necessary for larger numbers of ambulatory patients.
• Identify and assess the stability of doors and their locking systems. The activity in some departments is harder on some doors than others, especially public entrances. See that the doors have durable and effective hardware.
• Assess the scope, age, and effectiveness of the security equipment available, such as radios, closed-circuit televisions, perimeter door alarms, and duress alarms.

For more tips on assessing your staffing levels, consult HCPro's "Hospital Security Professional's Manual," an assessment and planning guide by Walter G. Sarratt, CPP. For more information, visit http://www.hcmarketplace.com/Prod.cfm?id=1291

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive