Ian Littell, global key account manager for Axis Communications, explains how unified security systems in healthcare can tackle staff violence, enhance safety and improve operational efficiency.
Healthcare is facing a security crisis. According to an independent study by Axis Communications, a Swedish specialist in network video, in collaboration with IFSEC Insider, almost three-quarters (72%) of healthcare professionals cite violence against staff as their top security challenge. A concerning four in 10 respondents reported witnessing abuse and harassment of staff on a daily basis while nearly a quarter said it happens weekly.
Critically, more than half (54%) revealed that their teams lack adequate training to deal with security risks. This data underscores the pressing and urgent need for healthcare organisations to rethink their approach to security. The answer lies not in isolated measures, but in the adoption of unified, integrated systems which bring safety measures together, help protect staff and offer operational efficiency benefits on top.
A search for a solution
Staff across healthcare facilities face daily risks. Verbal and physical abuse has become disturbingly routine, and healthcare teams are struggling to find the means to deal with the pressure – this is amplified given the sector is bound by budgetary constraints and often overworked. Frequent abuse takes a toll on staff. The UK’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports a steep drop in morale and job satisfaction, particularly amongst medical staff and nurses, in the years since 2018. Retention levels have followed suit, and understaffing is, in many cases, overstretching resources.
Our research shows that healthcare teams are vulnerable and need the support of a comprehensive approach to security infrastructure. The responses indicate that 60% of those surveyed are looking at body-worn cameras for staff, which are a great visual deterrent but, in isolation, fall short of addressing the broader issue of violence and anti-social behaviour. Measures such as these, on their own, can be inefficient and limit scalability; but as part of an integrated security platform, they do offer a high level of support and reassurance.
Unlocking new innovations
Unified systems, integrating technologies like video surveillance, body-worn devices, IP audio and access control, offer healthcare a holistic solution to meet their security needs. Working in unison, these systems enhance situational awareness, streamline and smooth the operations of the stretched healthcare sector and support long-term security strategies.
It’s about being smart and using an integrated system to its fullest to achieve next-level results. Cameras help to manage flash points. For example, people counting or aggression detection analytics can monitor for increased build-up of people and rising tensions. In turn, an integrated security system can trigger audio notifications to relay timely messages both to security staff and to actors in affected areas directly, aiding the de-escalation of difficult situations. This would help achieve the aims of organisations like the NHS’s Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub to improve staff safety.
The true cost of security
The Axis healthcare survey spotlighted budget constraints as one of the most prominent healthcare concerns. The prospect of a costly rip-and-replace overhaul is daunting, particularly in a sector as stretched as healthcare. This is another case for modular integration. With the kind of open, robust and connected hardware that we create, healthcare facilities can upgrade their systems incrementally when the money is available or when new functionality is required.
Integrated security is not just about safety. Where spending is concerned, the greater operational efficiency offered by a unified platform helps to reduce overall costs. Centralised monitoring and control make security teams more efficient. Analysis of data gleaned from security systems can identify patterns in foot traffic or potential incidents, helping to optimise staffing and the use of space. Liability becomes more provable with the help of body-worn cameras and access logs, reducing the potential of costly disputes.
Physical and logical security
Not just any system will do. Compliance, or the lack of it, might be one of the biggest costs facing healthcare providers if they select security hardware which is not fit for purpose.
The risk of subversive measures has dramatically increased in recent years as geo-political threats have risen. This goes hand in hand with a tightening of cybersecurity regulations everywhere. On top of everything they already do, health organisations must deal with the EU’s NIS 2, the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and the strict rules governing healthcare providers.
Our survey showed that 54% of healthcare staff lack training in security matters, so it is extremely important that they are supported by a system which prioritises its own security.
Opting for a security platform which is backed by strong cybersecurity protocols instils confidence among staff, patients, and stakeholders alike. And healthcare organisations must, given regulatory pressure, elect to use systems which help them meet high standards of accountability and those which can prove their supply chain integrity and sustainability credentials. Technology can help build trust – and with new threats emerging all the time, today’s systems must be able to be trusted to withstand the pressures of tomorrow.
A new dawn for healthcare
Healthcare professionals face an awful level of abuse and violence, but the survey also highlights an opportunity. Through unified, modular solutions, by moving beyond piecemeal sticking plaster solutions, healthcare organisations can tackle these challenges successfully.
Creating security platforms that work together will help protect staff more effectively, support operational efficiency and ultimately improve patient care. An investment in open, connected, and cyber secure hardware is not only an essential component of building smarter, safer health facilities, it’s also a huge win for the future of healthcare.
