22 Healthcare Security, Safety and Emergency Management Trends for 2022 and Beyond

We recently asked IAHSS members to share their views on four topics: how COVID-19 changed their operations, which trends are here to stay, what changes to expect in 2022 and beyond. The text below, which has been lightly edited, reflects the range of answers we received.

What has been COVID-19’s impact on healthcare security and safety?

Jeff Oliver, Director of Corporate Security, Atrium Health: COVID-19 has placed a focus on the importance of identity management, screening processes, visitor management strategies; exposed the risks of an open environment; and increased rates of workplace violence, which were already exponentially higher than any other industry.

Scott Normandin, Executive Director, Safety, Security and E.M, Baptist Health System: Security responsibilities have been extended beyond traditional roles, to include screening and other duties. This has demonstrated value, with the downside that it has stretched staff thin, and response times and employee engagement have suffered.

Morgan Saunders, Director of Safety and Facilities Operations, Holzer Health System: COVID has placed a bull’s-eye on the U.S. healthcare system. We are seeing a mass exodus of staff to other industries or higher-paying jobs. This is not sustainable and must be addressed.

Which trends did you see or implement in 2021 are probably here to stay?

Jeff Ramey, System Director of Protective Services, Bon Secours Mercy Health: Doing more with less. We have always tried to leverage technology to control our human resource costs, but that effort really increased in 2021.

Jesus Rosales, Operations Manager, Oregon State Hospital: Increased workplace violence related to COVID-19 externalities. Continued burnout for staff.

Gloria Graham, System Director, Emergency Management and Public Safety, Lee Health System: Additional, direct communication with all members of our team to provide support and recognition for their work.

Wayne Byrd, Director of Security, McLeod Health: Our facilities went from a "shopping mall" access model to a nuclear plant model, and now are more like an airport. I don't see us ever going back to the wide open "shopping mall" of old.

Tom Huser, Safety Coordinator, IU Health Physicians: In Indiana, there has been an increased move from the traditional security force at hospitals to that of a police department. That trend will continue, as it allows hospitals to be less reliant on municipal police for assistance with arrests, etc. More services will move away from the traditional hospital campus to off-campus locations, bringing with them new challenges for safety and security.

Bryan Warren, President / Chief Consultant, WarSec Security: The impact of meaningful metrics and the ability to objectively demonstrate the value of security, safety, and emergency management programs.

How do you prediction healthcare security and safety will change in the future?

David Nelson, System Director of Public Safety, NCH Healthcare System: With the new emphasis on workplace violence by The Joint Commission, the issue of workplace violence will be elevated in the eyes of senior leadership.

Jeff Oliver, Director of Corporate Security, Atrium Health: More proactive approaches to workplace violence; greater use of metal detectors and weapons screening; an increase in the use of body cameras in healthcare; and greater emphasis on training all teammates in de-escalation.

Robert Gibson, Director of Security, University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department.: Hiring challenges will increase across the nation.

Paul Sarnese, AVP, Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness, Virtua Health Inc.: Hourly rates and shift bonuses will increase to augment staffing shortages. Supply chain issues will continue.

Bryan Warren, President / Chief Consultant, WarSec Security: Due to continued issues such as workplace violence and behavioral health overcrowding in emergency departments, coupled with staffing shortages of security and law enforcement personnel, healthcare organizations will have to prioritize the roles of their security personnel and reconsider many of the current time-consuming nontraditional duties they perform.

How do you foresee the future of healthcare security and safety?

Andre Brass, Director, OSF HealthCare: I am optimistic. The industry seems to be adopting professional and standardized methods that will greatly benefit the services we provide.

Eric Sean Clay, Vice President of Security, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System: If we continue to make smart decisions, security will continue to be viewed as an important part of the care team, and a greater emphasis will be placed on our contributions.

Jeff Oliver, Director of Corporate Security, Atrium Health: Healthcare security will continue its evolution from a necessary cost center to a trusted risk management partner. The focus on workplace violence prevention and mitigation strategies will continue to drive the need for improved de-escalation training and implementation. Enterprise security risk management methodology will continue to expand within healthcare. Threat assessment and real-time threat intelligence will become more important in an overall security and safety program.

Paul Sarnese, AVP, Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness, Virtua Health Inc.: Continued merging of infection control and security technologies; more emphasis on emergency management; increases in staffing due to violence in healthcare.

Jeff Ramey, System Director of Protective Services, Bon Secours Mercy Health: I see smaller programs that focus on better-trained and better-compensated staff, with a continued focus on security technology to allow these programs to do more with less.

Jesus Rosales, Operations Manager, Oregon State Hospital: Hospitals and healthcare systems are understanding that there needs to be a comprehensive response across all discipline to make changes to reduce violence and burn out.

Douglas Vance, Director, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics: The field will continue to grow and diversify in overall responsibilities. A basic security force is an outdated model. The force will need to be more educated and willing to embrace change.

Sukhdeep Dhaliwal, Manager, Forensic Security Operations, Provincial Health Services Authority: There will be stress on training security officers around conflict resolution, customer service, public relations and education, managing mental health crises similar to medical distress incidents, and managing security teams’ internal psychosocial health and safety. There will be a need to improve hiring standards, training standards, and supervision and leadership standards; seriously manage officer misconduct; and encourage communication within the ranks. Gone are the days when communication and feedback only occurred downward, when the supervisor/manager was always correct, officers working the floor did not have any say in decisions, and leaders blamed teams for low performance. The future is in making the workplace inclusive, psychosocially safer and healthier; empowering the frontline staff; bringing new ideas; and leading others.