Harborview medical Center Security Officers

The frontline security officres charged with protecting patients & staff more and more find themselves in the hospital's ER. Two officers have sensible solutions for the safety of themselves, hospital staff, patients & visitors.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WFSE
• AFSCME
• Labor
• union
• workers

[japtac]

Hospital security officers have a very diffirent job then the average security officer. There is a lot more that is involved not to mention a whole other way patients have to be dealt with than staff and visitors. "Patient Bill of Rights & HIPPA"

Training is a key factor to the equation. Hospitals look at security as money coming out of there pockets with no real return ($) for them. It's a necessary evil.

[capt777737]

Suspects went to jail too.

[capt777737]

I worked security across the street from HMC, police showed up one night on a knock & talk, they had 4 suspects at their car, and one ran off, so the officers gave chase and told me to keep eye on the other 3. They were getting restless

HMC security came and gave me a hand. SPD arrived with the one guy and more SPD was enroute. I got fast backup from HMC.

Thanks to both HMC and SPD

[hnbbs]

@mybill2012 You are wrong about contract security. They will not be better. They may cost less but they will not do a better job. Plus I hate to tell you this but off duty police officers are not good for hospital security. I worked at one hospital that had in house security and right next to that hospital was a hospital of the same size that used off duty police officers. The in house security officer did a much better job. The other hospital with police had no security. Just a fact.

[Marty32]

@chrisharper1225 Agreed. One thing I've learned (I work security) is that we are just that--security. People (and guards) tend to forget what security is all about. We prevent things from getting worse. We make sure everything is okay--and when shit hits the fan, then yes the police is called (since they are reactive, and we are proactive).

[mybill2012]

why did you not say hospital hired state troopers on site for 24/7? you made it looks like you are the only ones dealing with all the problems.

[chrisharper1225]

Security officers are not police. As a veteran of both I can tell you without a doubt that these SO don't understand that fact. 95% of your job as an SO in a healthcare facility is customer service. SO are there to assist visitors and patients, enforce hospital policy in a cooperative manner, and protect people from injury, not play cop. And what tools do you need.. your not SWAT.. that isn't your role. SO have to be hands on to be effective and you should have the trainining to be hands on

[samten10a]

Ever hear of OSHA call them it is either state or fed. First document the assaults that happen to staff that you had to deal with and the training and the lack of training and equipment you think you need to stay healthy. Video tape some of it for proof.

[mybill2012]

i think the hosptial is doing the right thing now, they outsourced the new NJB building, and now the 401 building. i think they are planning eventually to outsource all the secuirty works to local security company and keep some state troopers on site. i think this is a great idea, It will save a lot of hospital money and good for those public old-school guys to find comfortable jobs somewehere else. 

[melbournaut]

@OjoMalo01 I have every idea asshole. I have seen nurses assaulted, guards hit and patients injured due to poor operators. The patients and staff deserve guards who can perform they're function to a high level.

I think the problem is that often people underestimate the bullshit associated with drug and psych issues thinking its gonna be like an episode of scrubs. The issue is most likely the hiring not the training..