Issue link: https://securitytechnologyexecutive.epubxp.com/i/690996
32 SECURITY TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE • May/June 2016 www.SecurityInfoWatch.com EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT both infrastructure and patient surge assess- ment forms as well as extremely useful dia- grams which allow a user to copy and paste digital photos, screen captures, blueprints or any type of image file onto one of a num- ber of predesigned Microsoft Word tem- plates which are equipped with built-in icons (depicting various clinical and security per- sonnel, vehicles, traffic barriers, and struc- tures) which can be "dragged and dropped" onto the pasted image and then saved or printed out to create a quick visual illustra- tion of a traffic management plan for a facil- ity. With a little practice, this can be done within minutes, offering a true "just in time" capability to traffic and security manage- ment for a patient surge event. The Law Enforcement and Healthcare Workshop and Security-Based Tabletop Exercise Templates are also very easy to use and offer a wide variety of time-saving predesigned forms such as a detailed planning guide, custom- izable save the date, registration and par- ticipant and program evaluation forms plus exercise scenarios and in-depth facilitator and participant guides. It provides enhanced security planning capabilities for public health emergencies and surge events for hospitals and healthcare security profession- als and is designed to be used to engage law enforcement in planning for and respond- ing to public health emergencies, to enhance security planning for points of pharmaceuti- cal dispensing and to augment security plan- ning for hospitals and alternate care sites during patient surge events. Another invaluable planning tool for pub- lic health emergencies and disasters that can affect hospitals is the IAHSS Security Design Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities. These guidelines, when used as part of a multidis- ciplinary effort in conjunction with organi- zation's emergency preparedness staff and other clinical and non-clinical departments, can provide a wealth of knowledge to both the veteran healthcare security practitioner and the novice. These guidelines promote security designs that are risk appropriate and provide the ability to quickly develop a comprehensive security plan that includes a consistent application of security safeguards while coordinating with existing emergency operations, life safety plans and applicable regulations for those having jurisdiction in the local environment. Summary Finally, a significant part of successful secu- rity planning for healthcare environments is engaging your vendors and integrators to provide subject matter expertise in not only installing and maintaining applicable physical security countermeasures (such as access con- trols, CCTV and alarms systems) but also in providing feedback and input based upon pre- vious successful projects that they have worked on or have knowledge of through professional associations or through case studies that they have read about in industry publications. Your integrators provide a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to such issues, and they should always be included as part of any multidisciplinary team that is looking to make security improvements to its healthcare facil- ity. Through your own knowledge of the facil- ity and its current readiness state, local first responders input as far as ingress / egress routes and logistical needs and your integrators knowledge of current systems and capabilities, your project will have a much better chance of success using such a holistic approach during the design phase. Public health facilities and hospitals are part of the critical infrastructure and a key resource for the communities and populations which they serve and must be provided with ade- quate resources, expertise, and safeguards for their protection. While incidents can (and do) occur at any time and any place, it is typically the security sensitive areas in the healthcare environment that are most likely to suffer sub- stantial issues, and this is especially true dur- ing unexpected events such as a public health emergency when finite resources and limited protective measures are already taxed. Preplanning and the sharing of best practic- es and successful mitigation strategies among healthcare security and safety professionals is a crucial step in preventing disaster when such events occur since security should be consid- ered an integral part of any healthcare organi- zation's planning process. ■ Despite the continued threat of terrorist and other criminal activity, 14 states received an F for their Disaster Preparedness capability. About the Author: Bryan Warren is Director of Corporate Security for Carolinas HealthCare System, the second-largest not for profit healthcare system in the U.S. with over 900 care locations and 70,000 employees (based in Charlotte, N.C.). He holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, an MBA with a focus on legal foundations of healthcare and has over 26 years of healthcare security experience. His certifications include Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator as well as Certified Protection Officer Instructor. He has been a contributor to numerous publications, is the author of the Workplace Violence Prevention section for the IAHSS Healthcare Safety Certification program and has served on a number of national task forces for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Infrastructure Protection. Bryan is a two-time recipient of the Russell Colling Medal for Literary Achievement in Healthcare Security and is a Past President of the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS). He is the Sector Chief for Emergency Services in the FBI's Infragard program in the Charlotte N.C. region and a member of ASIS.