Hospitals are now proactively training management and staff so they can respond quickly and appropriately if a dangerous incident occurs. They’re also focusing heavily on prevention. Here are some of the elements of a strong hospital security plan:

• Conduct annual risk assessments
• Implement strategies and staff training that identify behavior that could lead to violence
• Train staff on how to defuse tense situations and, when necessary, how to alert hospital security
• Add access control technology, digital video surveillance, electronic lockdown capability and electronic tracking of equipment and medication
• Add sufficient hospital security guards

Not surprisingly, security guards in hospitals are becoming more common–but most hospital management says there aren’t enough. Properly trained guards can de-escalate a situation verbally yet have the skills to physically restrain when needed.