Healthcare
SecurityHospitals present unique security problems. They offer care 24 hours/day; and family members, visitors and staff might arrive at any time. There are several aspects of this problem, so let’s look at a particular hospital—Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, one of the finest and safest in the U.S. and yet not located in a very good area of the city. First, let’s look at the patient side. If you are being admitted to any hospital, it is best to leave all your valuables at home. Patient theft is one of the largest problems in any hospital. Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) has a major ER department, including victims of gunshots and stab wounds from gang fights and other altercations. Sometimes those people want to come to ER and “finish the job.” Thus, HFH security has established a major base at the ER entrance to prevent such occurrences. HFH has its own proprietary security force, well trained, located throughout the hospital and able to reach any point of emergency within seconds.
HFH is a large, sprawling, massive complex of old buildings with substantial on-campus and off-location parking facilities. Shuttle buses will take staff to off-site parking. Although the on-campus parking facilities are well lighted and well patrolled, if you feel unsafe walking to your car at 2 a.m., a security officer will be happy to accompany you. Only certain doors are unlocked at night. Locked doors require an employee’s “keycard” for entrance. Just like any other place with such a system, this also tracks who came in, where, when and when they left—if they did.
Remember when you check in as a patient: Leave valuables at home, take only what you need, be sure to have your legal papers in order if any medical decisions must be made, find out what security can do for you in general AND, most important, check your hospital bill before paying it. When old Blackdog found out he was paying $2 for those raggedy slippers they make you wear, I decided to go barefoot! Also, if you take regular medication, bring it with you. The hospital will be happy to dispense your daily medications for you—but at a very high cost.
If you are going to have a child, be very sure to check all the area hospitals for extra maternity ward security. One of the most heinous crimes imaginable is baby kidnapping, and it has happened more frequently than you are led to believe. Fortunately, the crime rate in this area is dropping because hospitals have realized how intense the security must be for these areas. For example: (1) Babies should be given an ID “tag” immediately so that no babies get mixed up. It has happened, and in one case in Florida it was never discovered until the children were 14. (2) The maternity ward always should be locked. The ID card employees wear often is the same card they used to gain entry. Employees always should guard their ID cards. (3) There should be a strong security presence in this area, including monitoring the maternity ward itself.
Healthcare employees are always overworked and underpaid, but they take their jobs seriously. They are there to help you. On a different note, however, are nursing homes. If it is possible, one of the best alternatives to nursing home care, is having part-time help come to your home to take care of the elderly or ailing patient. If you do decide nursing home care is essential, then visit every home you are considering. Spend an hour or two at each, ask questions of the staff and residents. Ask to see the home’s latest state survey results that report any problems the facility has had. These are public. If the home will not let you see the report, take it off your list.
A list of working conditions for the better includes: High staff-to-resident ratios, highly skilled and trained staff, low staff turnover rates, sufficient staff supervision, well-paid staff, low-stress working conditions, minimal number of critically ill patients, staff empathy and understanding of the elderly and their needs. Also be sure the staff is very aware of security problems and does all they can to prevent them. Cost is another factor. There is a limit to salaries that can be paid. Be sure the home isn’t ripping you off.
