Healthcare facilities are built to heal, but their openness leaves them vulnerable. Healthcare facilities account for 42% of infant abductions, and healthcare workers experience violence—both physical and verbal—at a shockingly 5 times higher rate than other industries. This violence accounts for up to 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries caused by violence. (NCMEC & ACS).

Given the severe and widespread security challenges facing healthcare today, traditional measures are no longer sufficient. A balanced and strategic approach combining compassion with proactive solutions—is essential to safeguard patients, staff, assets, patient data, and facilities. In this special crossover episode of Innovation Obsessed by Oosto and Highway to Health, hosted by David Kemp, Oosto's Patrick Welsh, and Matt Plantier explore how innovative security measures help healthcare teams tackle these challenges head-on. This high-energy episode tests both physical skill and strategic thinking as Patrick and Matt face off in basketball, golf, and ping pong while addressing David's questions about security in healthcare. David draws parallels between sports and the challenges of securing high-risk environments, highlighting shared principles like teamwork, adaptability, and precision in execution—qualities essential for both winning games and protecting patients and staff.

Defense or Offense?

Hospitals, designed with open environments to support diverse healthcare needs, are inherently dynamic spaces. This accessibility, while essential, also creates vulnerabilities. Like shopping malls, schools, and sports arenas, hospitals become 'soft targets' due to their high-density populations and the presence of vulnerable individuals, making them susceptible to potential threats.

Sadly, vulnerabilities can lead to tragic outcomes. As was the case when a Dallas anesthesiologist tampered with IV bags, causing one death and multiple cardiac emergencies. (SOURCE). This horrifying incident underscores the unique challenges hospitals face in securing their facilities against those who wish to do harm.

These weaknesses stem from the need for multiple entry points, the presence of valuable medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, and access to sensitive patient data, increasing the risk of violence, theft, and terrorism. As Patrick Welsh notes, "We've seen instances where bad actors 'case' a location seven or more times before acting. That kind of behavior is something our systems are designed to catch early."

Effective hospital security requires more than perimeter monitoring. By integrating real-time data from parking garages, entrances, patient care areas, and restricted zones, hospitals can achieve holistic awareness of their environments, allowing them to identify and address potential risks before they escalate.

The Playbook for Hospital Administrators

Hospital administrators play a vital role in ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and visitors—a mission-critical responsibility. While their primary focus remains on delivering quality care, they must also address complex security challenges, ranging from preventing unauthorized access to managing risks in high-traffic zones.

Patrick Welsh emphasizes the weight of this responsibility: "It's not just about keeping the building secure—it's about protecting the people inside, so nurses, doctors, and staff can give their full attention to patients." By incorporating innovative security measures into their operational strategies, administrators can create an environment where care and safety coexist seamlessly.

Equipping healthcare leadership and staff with advanced tools to detect threats early, enables them to prioritize what matters most: improving patient outcomes and supporting their teams. As Patrick explains, "When you know your facility is secure, you can shift your focus to delivering exceptional care."

The Safety MVPs

Nurses, the heartbeat of patient care, are tasked with responsibilities that extend far beyond bedside care. A significant portion of their time is consumed by security-related tasks, from vigilantly monitoring patient safety to meticulously adhering to strict medication protocols. These critical duties, performed amidst the intensity of their daily routines, are often downplayed for their complexity and significance.

The time nurses dedicate to security protocols varies widely based on their specialty, shift, and workplace dynamics. For example, emergency room nurses may concentrate on patient distress and high-stakes incidents, while ICU staff prioritize medication safety and fall prevention. Night shifts, with reduced staffing and increased risks, demand heightened vigilance, adding another layer of complexity to their roles.

As Patrick Welsh underscores, "The burden of security shouldn't fall entirely on frontline staff. Advanced tools and proactive measures empower healthcare workers to focus on care while staying protected."

Accessing the End Zone

Protecting high-risk areas and vulnerable patients

Certain hospital zones, like maternity wards and pharmacies, face heightened security risks. Pharmacies are particularly vulnerable to theft and drug diversion, with controlled substances often targeted by both external threats and internal misuse. Similarly, maternity wards face unique threats, including the risk of infant abductions. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), healthcare facilities are a frequent target for infant abductions. In fact, healthcare settings accounted for 40% of all infant abductions in the United States in recent decades. NCMEC reports that abductors often impersonate healthcare staff, make repeated visits to maternity wards, and ask detailed questions about procedures and layouts, underscoring the critical need for vigilant security in these high-risk areas. "These challenges aren't theoretical—they happen, and they can have devastating consequences. Our job is to make sure hospitals have the tools they need to prevent them." says Matt Plantier.

Hospitals can identify and address these risks on both a large scale and at the individual level. For example, real-time action alerts enable nurses to respond quickly to incidents like slip and falls, running, elopements, or loitering. A holistic approach strengthens the hospital's ability to protect patients, staff, and high-risk areas, ensuring that every corner of the facility is monitored and secured.

Inside the Lines

Maintaining safety in sterile environments

Sterile areas, such as operating rooms, NICUs, and clean rooms, require the highest level of security and access control. Unauthorized access or breaches in these zones can compromise both patient safety and infection control protocols. Matt Plantier explains, "When you're talking about these high-risk areas, it's not just about keeping people out—it's about ensuring the people who need to be there can do their jobs without distractions."

Touchless entry systems, such as those implemented at Raphael Hospital in Israel, transform how hospitals secure critical areas. "We wanted to build the most updated hospital," says Raphael Cohen, Operating Room Manager. "Oosto's solutions have made it possible for us to secure these critical areas without disrupting operations."

By safeguarding sterile zones, hospitals uphold the highest standards of care while creating an environment where staff can perform at their best, confident their spaces are secure.

Home Court Advantage

Building trust with balanced safety and compassion

Hospitals operate on trust—patients rely on safe environments for care, and staff depend on security to perform their critical roles. Oosto is committed to advancing safety and security solutions that reinforce this trust and support the essential work happening within every facility.

"Every hospital is different," says Matt, "but the goal is always the same: to protect what matters most—patients, staff, and peace of mind." With privacy and compliance at the forefront, Oosto collaborates with administrators, healthcare professionals, and security teams to create safer environments that support optimal patient outcomes.

As Matt points out, "Hospitals are unique—they need to be open and compassionate while also being secure. Balancing those two is a challenge, but it's one we've built our solutions to address." David Kemp adds how adapting a competitive mindset "helps healthcare providers win and protect their patients," emphasizing that in healthcare, every play truly matters.

Patrick nails the winning point, stressing that, "Compassion and security don't have to be at odds. When you have the right tools, you can have both."