Hospitals are akin to revolving doors – they’re open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. And a lot of people come through those doors 24/7/365, including medical staff, people coming into the ER, visitors, delivery people and more. The sheer volume of people coming and going makes hospitals especially vulnerable to security threats and incidents, as evidenced by the sharp rise in workplace violence in our nation’s hospitals. Workplace violence in the health sector is estimated to account for about a quarter of all workplace violence.
With over 70% of workplace violence taking place in a healthcare setting and the majority of emergency physicians saying violence in the emergency department harms patient care, the need to address staff safety has become paramount for many hospital administrators.
As highlighted in our last blog post, many hospitals are adding sophisticated AI-powered detection systems to their entry points. They provide a sorely needed extra layer of protection and are enabling hospitals to take more aggressive control of their security and safety operations.
An industry-leading provider of AI-powered weapons detection technology is Evolv. Their advanced security screening solution leverages artificial intelligence and powerful sensor technology to efficiently and effectively detect concealed weapons. Ideal for high-traffic environments, their weapons detection solutions are so sophisticated that people can walk through without even having to empty their pockets or bags. Evolv’s solution has received the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology, highlighting its effectiveness and reliability in enhancing security measures.
NextGen is very proud to partner with Evolv and implement its AI-powered weapons detection solution for our clients. Evolv has earned its reputation as a trusted technology provider – their weapons detection solution has been adopted in more than 250 hospital buildings to screen over 400,000 hospital visitors every day, compared to just 40,000 a year ago. The following excerpts, taken from an Evolv news release, highlight why so many hospitals are implementing Evolv’s AI-powered weapons detection solutions.
David Musyj, president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital said the Express scanners, which were installed in October, have proven to be a huge success since they’ve been installed with over 1,000 weapons being detected so far. “We have successfully stopped a significant number of dangerous items from entering our facility with this new system. Protecting our providers and working to create a safer environment enables the best possible patient care.”
Windsor Regional Hospital’s emergency room operations manager Lisa Gawdunyk, RN added, “I can positively say that not only have we seen noted improvements to our recruitment and retention of staffing in the emergency department, but also improvements to overall staff morale. They feel supported and safe. Patients and families have also been appreciative of the steps WRH is doing to ensure their safety.”
“Since we’ve installed the Express systems in June, we’ve stopped over 500 guns and 200 knives from entering our facility,” said Brian Wade, director of security at Temple University Health. “We are trying to provide a safe environment for everyone who comes into our hospital and Evolv has been an active layer in our security plan.”
“We had a lot of ED staff telling us they were very concerned about safety. They wanted to be able to take care of patients and not worry about their safety. When the ED nursing staff found out that we were putting the Express systems in place, they were very excited,” said David Hall, manager of security services at Southern Ohio Medical Center.
“As business leaders today, we are constantly challenged to look at new ways to create environments of safety from a cultural, physical, psychological, and technology perspective,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health in New York. “Our people are our number one investment. Creating safer environments for them to collaborate and do their best work is essential.”
Call on us at NextGen to learn more about how adding a robust weapons detection system to your security arsenal can elevate safety at your facility.