By Ken Bukowski/ Special to Healthcare Facilities Today

Whether due to construction, planned special events or unplanned emergency situations, sometimes temporary security staffing is necessary to meet the needs of your healthcare facility. Careful planning and the selection of the right provider can help ensure that regardless of the situation, it’s (safe and secure) business as usual for your hospital. 

There are several factors to consider when planning for temporary staffing:

• Defining the scope of duties — It is imperative that the scope of duties and expectations be outlined prior to deploying a temporary security officer. For example, there are different considerations for an officer who is working inside the hospital versus one who is providing security at an outdoor construction site. The former needs immunizations and health screenings, whereas the latter may not have that need. 

• Training needs vary — The appropriate training depends on the scope of duties. In emergencies, permanent security staff are often pulled into the more critical areas, and temporary staff may be assigned to tasks like crowd control and therefore may not need the same level of training. A credentialing process can outline what training needs are immediate.

• Maintaining regulatory compliance — As any hospital administrator or security manager knows, the hospital is always responsible for what happens at their facility. Regulations and standards do not change just because there is an out-of-the-ordinary situation happening at a particular location. Temporary security officers must be aware of and abide by all standards to assist in maintaining regulatory compliance.  

• Supporting the culture of the facility — Even temporary security officers reflect on a hospital’s brand. It is imperative that they align with the culture, appearance and perception of a facility, regardless of the length of their assignment. They should also be outgoing, friendly and helpful to your staff, patients and visitors. 

With pools of qualified floating and temporary security officers, advanced training processes and experienced management, a quality security officer services provider can alleviate many of the challenges faced by healthcare facilities during situations when temporary staffing is necessary.

Bukowski is the vice president of healthcare, AlliedBarton Security Services.