IAHSS Foundation Releases Findings from US Healthcare Crime Survey

Each year, the IAHSS Foundation surveys U.S. hospitals about crimes that occurred at their facilities and other security-related matters. The resulting report, the IAHSS Foundation Healthcare Crime Survey, provides a unique benchmarking tool for hospital security professionals.

The recently published 2023 survey, based on 192 usable responses, found that, as in previous years, the bulk of violent crimes committed in hospitals are aggravated assaults and the bulk of aggravated assaults – as well as simple assaults – are committed against staff. (The 2023 survey asked about incidents that occurred in calendar year 2022.)

Read the full report

Among responding hospitals, the average violent crime rate – which includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault – was 1.9 incidents per 100 beds. Aggravated assaults accounted for 78 percent of violent crime incidents. Further, among the 127 responding hospitals that record offense data using the Workplace Violence Typology, hospital employees were the victims of 83 percent of all aggravated assaults.

In addition, the rate of simple assaults was 22 per 100 beds, and, within the Workplace Violence Typology subset of hospitals, 93 percent of simple assaults were directed at staff.

For the first time this year, the survey asked respondents to gauge on a five-point scale how challenging it was to maintain a full, qualified security staff. Only 14 percent reported that it was “Easy” or “Very Easy,” while 65 percent said it was “Difficult” or “Very Difficult.”

Hospitals reporting that it was “Difficult” or “Very Difficult” to keep their security departments fully staffed had an average of 10 security personnel per 100 beds, while those reporting having an “Easy” or “Very Easy” time had an average of 7.7, suggesting that recruiting and retention challenges increase as staffs grow larger.

Overall, the survey found that respondents averaged 9.5 full-time security employees per 100 beds.

Recent editions of the Crime Survey indicate that the simple assault rate has been increasing. From 2012 to 2019, it hovered around 10 incidents per 100 beds, but it has risen in each of the past three years and is now more than double that. Similarly, the disorderly conduct rate has trended upward. It has been above 52 incidents per 100 beds in each of the past two years (52.2 in the current report), and the only other year since 2012 that the rate reached 40 or above was 2018, when it was 45.2.

Caution is advised when interpreting the data, however, given the survey’s limitations. These include sampling bias, variations in definitions between hospitals, and the impact of outlier data.

About the IAHSS Foundation

Founded in 1981, the IAHSS Foundation advances the awareness and professional competence of the healthcare security and safety industry through research, education, and recognition.  The IAHSS Foundation supports  the healthcare industry, the security and safety professionals, our healthcare organizations and the patients and residents we serve.