5 Ways to improve communication within the hospital’s security system

Security Systems aim to provide a workplace environment where employees and staff can feel safe while working. A poor communication system or lack of understanding of it, can be detrimental to all healthcare teams. Today’s blog explores 5 ways to make the most of your hospital’s security system as well as the aspects these systems should always cover.

1. Assess Barriers

Determine the actual pros and cons of the security system. Each healthcare center is different, therefore the evaluation is specific to each facility. Some questions you might want to answer are:

• Is it easy to use?
• How much coverage does it have?
• Is everyone aware of the operation and know how it works?
• Does it considerably increase the administrative workload?

2. Make communication a part of your culture

Your staff needs to understand the value of safety and security in the workplace. Even beyond the security system itself, employees need to engage with workplace safety and know the tools that are being used to ensure a safe working environment. By promoting a safety culture at work you increase the expectations, therefore the pursuit for perfection is more likely to happen when promoting a workplace where staff is always keen on identifying and generating solutions, actively promoting safety and security.

3. Streamline Communication Channels

Avoid losing consistency when communicating by specifying which channels will be used when being in an emergency. Centralized communication with a system that consolidates data transmissions. A lot of administrative work can be saved by having less systems for employees to use.

4. Ask your employees about preferred communication channels

Listen to your people, a system’s evaluation can begin by surveying staff about their pain points and adding new tools to address their needs.

5. Check the quality of the technology and protocols

Top-notch technology is important when assessing your security system. Cameras, radios, alarms that can work together make the difference when responding effectively. These are tools that work simultaneously with the security protocols and planning that hospitals should have tailored to their facility. When having an emergency, everyone should be aware of who gets the message, when and how.

Finally, remember that a security system should always assess the following:

• An end-to-end system, where everyone understands the tools that are being used, the methods and protocols.
• Restricted Areas.
• Isolation Rooms.
• Doors, entrances and reception areas.
• Operating and procedure rooms.
• Exits and parking lots.

In Kwema we are always looking forward to ensuring employees feel safer at work, which is one of the benefits that a proper security system brings. A better flow of information, effective interventions, improved safety, higher patient and family satisfaction and more efficient employees performing their jobs with higher confidence, are the ultimate goals of an effective hospital security system.