Hospital Security Assessment Research Paper

Hospital security assessment is a security process for identifications of gaps or weaknesses in a particular venue that can be subjugated by threats or intimidation to gain unauthorized entry or manipulation. Although healthcare/hospital security managers have enhanced and improved threat assessments regarding natural disasters, assaults on staff and avian flu, robbery cases related to infant abduction have been rampant in most of the hospitals. Infant abduction has resulted from the lack of security personnel patrols in areas that are vulnerable to abduction in the hospital. An effective hospital security assessment ensures life safety and protection of healthcare assets. The exploitation of potential weaknesses in functioning processes and

Following this research, the commission has set up security measures to identify the abduction risks in healthcare services. Some of the security measures state nurses act as contributors to the safety of infants by undertaking deterrence plans which highlight various safety actions. The actions nurses should take include providing education to parents emphasizing on abduction risks, putting bands and identification numbers on babies and parents, and ensuring that there is controlled access to the nursery

It also includes physical actions which cause harm to individuals and equipment in the hospital. In today's world, there is need to improve and strengthen the level of physical security in hospitals since the physical security has been vulnerable to robbery and theft. The physical security features include perimeters, lighting, alarms, and doors. In most cases, the physical security safeguards in hospitals are not properly integrated with other security program components hence making them vulnerable to robbery and theft. The physical security and the psychological aspects of security in most hospitals do not work together to enhance patient protection and equipment safety. The perimeter design in hospitals is also vulnerable to robbery and theft. System perimeters in most hospitals are not close to most critical areas or operational functions hence not securing health care services, patients, and facilities from robbery and theft. The layout and design of perimeters and fences in most hospitals do not effectively control access hence allowing unauthorized entry to hospital premises. Some of the healthcare centers perimeter system is designed to provide privacy rather than enhancing security within the environment. Poor design of fences and layering systems make the hospital