By Ken Bukowski/ Special to Healthcare Facilities Today

The national "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign was developed by the Department of Homeland Security to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper authorities.

This campaign should be taught to all hospital staff and patients and be visibly displayed for visitors and patients within a hospital environment as there are a high number of individuals that are continuously entering and exiting the campus and buildings. Hospital doors are open and the public is welcome so it should be a best practice for all individuals working or visiting the facility to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. This can include abandoned vehicles, unauthorized individuals in restricted areas, strange packages left on site or even unusual odors.

It is critical to remind all staff, patients and visitors that if they have any indication that something is wrong, they need to alert security immediately. Every individual serves as a valuable resource in the fight against crime, suspicious activity or unsafe conditions within the facility or on the hospital campus. We all have an obligation to contribute to our personal safety and the wellness of others so it is vital that we continue to express the importance of being aware of your surroundings and always reporting suspicious activity through the appropriate channels. 

Work with your security team and local emergency response groups to create a See Something, Say Something plan to display throughout the facility. Highlight important contact phone numbers including police, security and hospital management. Remind individuals that when they are reporting suspicious activity to have a clear description of what the activity is; the location; a description of the individual(s) involved; the date, time and duration of the activity; and the vehicle color, make and license plate number if a vehicle is associated with the action.

Security is a shared responsibility and the more we work together, the safer our hospital environments can be. 

Bukowski is the vice president of healthcare, AlliedBarton Security Services