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• Guide to Contracting Security

Healthcare Security Best Practices

Engaging the right security partner is critical for maintaining a secure environment in a hospital or other healthcare facility. The following best practice considerations will help you select the best-possible healthcare security officer services provider.

1. Evaluate a security provider’s ability to respond.

Consider if the company has the manpower and knowledge to handle emergencies. Do they have flex-force management? Will you have access to a state-of-the-art command and control center? Can you reach their command center and customer service personnel 24/7?

2. Review their reporting procedures.

What process is in place for communication? Can you use an extranet or other type of technology to stay on top of risk management issues? Also, review the procedure in place for incident reporting.

3. Demand industry-specific training.

Providing security for a hospital is different than handling the security of an industrial plant or a retail environment. AlliedBarton security officers undergo training specific for healthcare:

• Internal/External Disaster Response
• Bomb Threat Investigation and Response
• Fire Response (RACE) and prevention (ILSM)
• HazMat Emergency Response
• Workplace Violence Prevention and Response
• Infant Abduction Prevention and Response
• VIP Security Control
• Securing Helipads
• Command Center Operations for Internal/External Disasters
• HIPAA Controls and Compliance
• Training on The Joint Commission and other accrediting bodies
• Crime Prevention
• Safety Compliance
• Psychiatric Observations/Restraints

4. Look for an easy transition.

Will you be able to receive dependable service from day one? To answer this question, ask if the company uses officers in addition to electronics. If the company provides fully integrated systems, there’s a better chance they can hit the ground running.

5. Seek a fully customized solution that includes proactive measures.

Large teaching institutions, urban and rural healthcare facilities all benefit from the following:

• Increasing the number of visible security personnel inside and outside of the hospital
• Instituting and or increasing vehicle, foot, bike and roving patrols varying in frequency, routes and times
• Increasing the inspection of enclosed spaces such as restrooms, mechanical rooms, laundry rooms, warehouse and parking garages
• Limit the number of access points in to the hospital
• Strictly enforce visitor access control procedures
• Installing/upgrading additional CCTV cameras throughout the hospital to include critical systems, sensitive areas and loading docks