Why do all hospitals need security expertise from time to time?
The answers are many. They include reducing the probably of security-driven litigation. There is also the need to optimize the protection of patients, visitors and staff as cost-efficiently as possible. Hospitals also must meet the ever-increasing demands of regulatory bodies such as JCAHO, OSHA and the States. Hospitals are slowly beginning to see the need to stop the out-flow of supplies and equipment as a result of theft and fraud. Hospitals are beginning to have their data bases penetrated and patients’ rights to privacy are threatened. Infants and children are being kidnapped while under the care and control of the medical facility. Assaults are occurring in emergency departments and parking facilities; at the same time, staff are either inadequately or improperly trained to cope with these threats. Finally, when there are security problems, hospitals often respond in a knee-jerk fashion. These responses are often inappropriate and costly. Many hospitals are operating under the fa
