Layers of Protection: An Integrated Approach to Healthcare Safety and Security

In today’s healthcare environment, maintaining a safe and secure setting is critical to protecting patients, staff and organizational integrity. This session will provide healthcare leaders and safety professionals with practical tools and strategies to strengthen safety and security across both hospital and outpatient care settings. It will begin with an overview of common security vulnerabilities in healthcare facilities, focusing on workplace violence, access control challenges and environmental risks. Participants will learn how to conduct risk assessments that identify these vulnerabilities and will explore effective, real-world interventions to mitigate them, ranging from facility design enhancements to staff training and communication protocols. Next, the presenters will outline proven approaches to improving safety and security, including the development of interdisciplinary safety committees, integration of technology such as duress alarms and surveillance, and the establishment of a campus police force and K9 programs. Emphasis will be placed on approaches that are adaptable to varying facility sizes and resource levels.

By the end of this session, you will be able to identify key strategies to enhance safety protocols in healthcare settings and recognize and mitigate security risks to protect patients, personnel and infrastructure. You will leave with a clearer understanding of how to develop a proactive, systemwide approach to safety and security—one that is adaptable, resilient and aligned with regulatory expectations. This session is ideal for acute care and clinical leaders, safety officers, facility managers, and anyone involved in healthcare operations who is committed to building a safer and more secure healthcare environment.