Becker's Hospital Review asked three health system executives to break down the decision-making process behind their security models.
Concerns about excessive force used to restrain mental health patients are partially what has kept Chris Van Gorder, CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, from deploying armed security guards in Scripps facilities.
Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, N.Y., has about 525 licensed security guards across the system, according to Mark Solazzo, executive vice president and COO. Of those, just 20 officers — each at the director level — are armed.
Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First recently introduced armed security officers to its facilities. As of July 21, certain authorized security personnel at the 900-bed health system began carrying a firearm and baton.