By Dan Hounsell

Pandemic or no pandemic, healthcare facilities face a host of challenges in their daily operations. One issue that remains high on the priority list of any facilities manager is addressing the threat of workplace violence and ensuring the security and safety of patients and staff.

To address these needs, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety has published the third edition of Security Design Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities, according to Health Facilities Management. This edition was developed using the expertise of a multidisciplinary team with experience in various aspects of planning and design, crime prevention through environmental design, compliance, and development of healthcare facility security and emergency management programs.

The new edition places considerable emphasis in its updated guidance to help combat violence in healthcare using the built environment. Specific emphasis was placed on the design of high-risk patient/observation rooms that may be used for disruptive or aggressive patients, those at risk for elopement, and forensic patient treatment. New guidance was created for locked emergency psychiatric section of the emergency department.