One in Three U.S. Hospitals Report Rise in Violence and Assaults in 2014

One in three U.S. hospitals reported an increase in violence and assaults in 2014 despite widespread rising security budgets, according to a recent survey of 380 hospital administrators, chief security officers and staff by Guardian 8 Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian 8 Holdings. Top security concerns included the safety of patients and security officers as well as disruptions to patient care.

Reported increases in attacks and assaults included violence by patients and/or their families against emergency department personnel and staff such as nurses. Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) reported increasing their security budgets in 2014. The findings highlight the importance of proper security on hospital campuses and the need to address security staff turnover rates as high as 300 percent to 400 percent per year, according to Guardian 8, a provider of enhanced non-lethal (ENL) devices, such as the Pro V2, built for the security industry.

“No hospital facility can achieve its crucial mission of providing quality patient care without proper security to ensure patient, staff and visitor safety,” said Paul Hughes, chief operating officer of Guardian 8. “The inability to properly address a violent situation does not just affect the morale of security personnel, but also of the doctors and nurses around them. Low morale makes recruiting and retention a serious issue across the board. Minimizing security officer turnover therefore needs to be an integral part of a hospital’s overall security solution.”

An Equipment Issue

Guardian 8 maintains the excessive turnover in the hospital security industry is more an equipment issue than a matter of pay. When security officers feel safe, properly equipped and well prepared, they are less likely to leave—taking their first-hand knowledge of a hospital’s facilities, risks and protocols with them.

Hughes urged hospital security directors to recommend to administrators the smartest, safest security solutions. Exacerbating high security staff turnover, violent incidents lead to injuries and lost workdays. Add to that the high cost of replacing staff, estimated at 25 percent to 200 percent of the employee’s annual salary to cover the costs of advertising, interviewing, background checks, hiring and training.

According to the survey, 59 percent of respondents reported being unfamiliar with laws in their state restricting the use of non-lethal weapons. So if hospital administrators deny a request for security equipment for regulatory reasons, Hughes urged security directors to ask for the code or regulation in question.

Other survey highlights include the following:

  • Respondents’ top security concerns: patient safety (57 percent), officer safety (56 percent), disruptions to patient care (24 percent);
  • Response options: 15 percent of hospital security personnel are unarmed; 28 percent are armed; 57 percent use intermediate, non-lethal devices;
  • Variety of equipment carried by hospital security personnel: pepper spray, 41 percent; two-way communication system, 40 percent; baton, 37 percent; stun gun, 28 percent; on security officer video, 26 percent;
  • Seventy percent of respondents use an incident reporting system that includes a dashboard of activities for review; and
  • Fifty-one percent of respondents said they would feel comfortable moving away from their current security options.

Methodology

To understand recent trends in hospital violence and assault, and gauge top concerns and response options, Guardian 8 fielded an online survey of 380 hospital administrators, chief security officers, and nurses and hospital staff across the nation from Dec. 5, 2014 – Jan. 21, 2015.

Featured

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.