The Complete Guide to Hospital Security in 2025

Picture this: you’re a superhero sitting in your lair, surrounded by the most high-tech and expensive equipment known to mankind. Around your lair, are smaller rooms containing precious, life-saving substances. In nearby rooms, strangers sit – some talking, others sleeping. You don’t know these people, yet they’re allowed in. In fact, legally, you’re obligated to open your lair to anyone, from anywhere in the world, at any time. If this scene sounds like a high security risk, it’s because it is. Yet, these are the conditions hospitals and healthcare organizations face every day. In this guide, you’ll learn about the latest technology, tips, and training to strengthen your hospital security in 2025.  

In this Guide

• What is Hospital Security?
• Checklist: Areas to Protect
• The Dangers of Poor Hospital Security
• Benefits of Security in Hospitals and Healthcare 
• Important Components of Security in a Hospital 
• Access Control, Visitor Management, and Video Cameras
• Privacy
• Training for Hospital Staff
• Budgeting and Prioritizing

What is Hospital Security?

Hospital security is the practice of creating a safe environment for visitors, patients, doctors, nurses, and staff in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The goal of security is to cultivate a comfortable and secure space while deterring crime.

To strengthen and increase safety, healthcare and hospital organizations must rely on a multi-layered approach, which leverages security personnel, advanced technology, and staff trainings. This is no easy feat. 

Other important tasks of hospital access control and security, include:

• Patient monitoring
• Visitor management
• Foot traffic regulation
• Credential provisioning 
• Emergency room access
• Rapid resource allocation and deployment
• Infant/nursery protection
• Cybersecurity

Even more importantly, security directors and IT administrators must guard several different areas inside and around the perimeter of the hospital. Below is a checklist you can use when preparing an emergency door plan or auditing the security system at your hospital. 

Checklist: Areas to Protect in a Hospital

The Dangers of Poor Hospital Security

Outdated or under-equipped security has proved disastrous for hospitals and the people that work in them. Violent crime, patient abuse, and theft can go undetected without an up-to-date security solution. Consequently, this can negatively impact hospitals, financially – just ask the staff at the Santa Clara Valley Center in San Jose, CA.   

Over a four-year period, the Center reported 383 items missing – a loss of more than $11 million.

Inefficiently addressing these stressors can financially drain hospitals. However, poor hospital security is more than a fiscal problem. Healthcare organizations across the United States report workplace violence and crime resulting in:

• Poor staff mental health
• Worse staff performance
• Erosion of public trust
• Higher turnover
• Difficulty with recruitment

Due to these issues – and the obligation hospitals have to treat any person – the United States Department of Homeland Security classifies hospitals and healthcare organizations as “soft targets” for crime. Luckily, a hospital security system and emergency preparedness plan can mitigate the risks. 

Benefits of Hospital and Healthcare Security

As you know, hospital security is more than just locks. The benefits of a modern security system in conjunction with a team of security guards can save lives and positively impact your budget. Here are some of the benefits of an up-to-date hospital security system.

• Safer Patients
  Your patients’ quality of care determines your success. By cutting down on unauthorized visitors, reducing theft, and making your hospital a safe haven, you’ll boost the reputation of the hospital. Additionally, investing in security often pays for itself with fewer lawsuits, less downtime, and a safer place for patients and staff.

• Stay Ahead of Regulations
  Avoiding costly fines is easier with updated security. Stay in compliance with HIPAA, The Joint commission, and other regulatory bodies.

• Reduce Inefficiencies
  It’s easier than ever to automate access and visitor management. Automation helps keep the entire hospital team focused on care for patients rather than dealing with redundant paperwork.
  
• Deter Crime

Hospitals are especially susceptible to crime since they’re open to anyone. However, effective security can deter theft and violent crime.

• Lockdowns
  Advanced software solutions make automating the arming and disarming of doors simple. Preparing for a lockdown makes it easier to act decisively during emergencies.

• Smarter Tech, Lower Costs, More Flexibility
  Cloud-based, integrated systems cut maintenance headaches and IT costs.

The Components: Most Important Solutions for Hospital Security Systems

In 2023, the University of Washington, estimated that the total cost of violence to hospitals was $18.27 billion dollars. Over $14 billion of those funds were spent after the violent incident(s) had occurred, meaning that hospitals spent just 33% on preparing for those violent incidents. It gets the question – What would have happened if more funds had been allocated to preventative hospital security? 

Take the time to create a plan and invest in the technology that makes your building safe. Thorough hospital security involves a multi-layered approach, including: 

• Access Control
• User and Visitor Credentials
• Visitor Management
• Video Surveillance 
• Sensors and Alarms
• Live Security Guards
• Emergency Training
• Cybersecurity

Let’s look at some of the technologies, how they fortify hospitals, and how they’re making the hospitals safer for everyone. 

Access Control for Hospitals 

The backbone of hospital security is its access control system. In basic terms, hospital and healthcare access control systems regulate who, where, and when someone can enter a facility. However, hospital access control does even more. 

The best access control systems connect your entire hardware and software infrastructure into a single pane of glass. It’s a mission control center at your fingertips. On-prem and cloud-based access control systems connect all your cameras, your sensors, alarms, intercoms, and more. Additionally, top-tier access control gives hospital and healthcare security teams the ability to distribute credentials with just an internet connection. 

Cloud-based access control has transformed the way hospitals manage access – especially in fast-paced, high-risk environments like ERs, operating rooms, and pharmacies. With internet-connected credentialing, security can instantly issue or revoke access for staff, vendors, or contractors without exchanging physical badges. For example, when a surgeon rotates to a different facility or a nurse is reassigned to a restricted area, permissions can be updated with just a few clicks.

The latest access control technology empower teams to become more proactive. They can create security plans as well as automated and customized lockdown plans. To execute, all you need to do is click a button.  

More Efficient Healthcare Visitor Management

Another important component of security in hospitals and healthcare is visitor management. In 2022, there were over 155.4 million emergency department visits, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). A visitor management system can reduce foot traffic, improve patient safety, and improve operational efficiency. It’s also a good way to build your reputation as a comfortable hospital people want to go to when necessary.

How’s Visitor Management in Hospitals Work? 

Visitor management systems allow hospital guests to register by scanning their ID and filling out customizable questionnaires, if necessary. After the process is complete, the guest receives a time-sensitive badge, allowing them access to areas specified by the security team and hospital administration. 

Why You Need Visitor Management

Visitor management systems make the visitation process more efficient for hospital staff and the guests. Individuals can enter sensitive areas like ICUs, pediatric units, and maternity wards only if given access. However, they only need to check in once to receive the credentials, streamlining the process.  

Audit Trail

These systems can also enforce visiting hours and screen for health risks – crucial in environments where infection control is a top priority. In emergencies, administrators gain immediate access to visitor logs for contact tracing or evacuations. 

Key features include:

• Health screening integration– Identify and restrict visitors with symptoms or exposure risks
• Watch List alerts– flag restricted individuals
• Real-time tracking- Visibility and emergency response readiness
  

By automating and centralizing these functions, it’s easier to cultivate a safe and welcoming environment.

Video Security Cameras for Hospitals

Security cameras, video surveillance, and video management systems are the eyes of a hospital security system. Video security monitors the inside and outside areas of a building, transmitting high definition video to the security team. 

Over the past decade, video cameras and video management systems have made significant advancements, including in video quality, storage, and capabilities. 

Video Quality: High definition cameras with 1080p resolution are now the norm rather than the exception, with higher resolutions like 2K and 4K now available. 

Storage: No longer are security teams forced to make room for bulky, on-prem servers. Instead, you can store all your video off-site with video surveillance as a service  (VSaaS). As a result, regular server maintenance has also become a thing of the past, and getting the latest features installed on your VMS is as easy as clicking a “Update Now” button. 

Variety: Whether you need a basic dome camera for monitoring the entrance of a medical dispensary or a camera with two-way audio for the parking garage, surveillance technology has become increasingly specialized.

Looking for a way to quickly identify people? Many video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) systems now include AI-enhanced and facial recognition features. Facial recognition will help you keep track of visitors and patients.  

Privacy and HIPAA in Hospital Security

From facial recognition to social security numbers and photo IDs, hospital cameras capture sensitive information every day. Therefore, it’s imperative that security teams prioritize video surveillance systems that safeguard the privacy of guests, patients, and staff. 

As with access control systems, make sure your hospital video management system is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  

For an extensive dive into the latest security cameras and their features, check out SafeTouch’s guide Types of Security Cameras in 2025.  

Hospital-based Violence Intervention Training

The final piece to hospital security is training. Training programs such as hospital-based violence intervention and workplace violence prevention equip staff with the skills needed in emergency situations.  

Violence intervention training, like the one developed by The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI), walks participants through several sessions, including understanding trauma, de-escalation tips, retaliation assessment, and personal safety. Programs like this can be greatly beneficial as they give hospital staff the skills and confidence to handle potentially dangerous situations.

The Cost of Hospital-based Violence Intervention

The University of Washington study, mentioned earlier, found that safety training programs cost hospitals nearly $2.5 billion. But before you go ahead and redline security training for your hospital staff, it might be a good idea to reconsider. Why? 

The same study concluded that the expenses after a violent event occurred were even greater – seven times greater. In 2023, hospitals and healthcare organizations shelled out over $14 billion after a violent incident occurred at their facilities, including: 

• $13.1 billion in healthcare costs for injuries 
• $584 million for replacing and repairing equipment
• $541 million in staffing

In fact, each of the line items above cost more than the total investment made in technology ($459 million), exemplifying how preventative hospital and healthcare security is a cost effective investment.    

Prioritizing Hospital Security on a Limited Budget

Hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country often face funding challenges. Consequently, security teams are often the first affected by reduced hospital budgets. However, developing a long-term security plan can help you prioritize and advocate for the tools you need to get the job done. 

With over 30 years of industry experience, SafeTouch installation experts will help you assess, purchase, install, and monitor the security in your hospital. Whether you’re installing alarms, shopping for HD security cameras, or overhauling your entire access control system, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 888.895.SAFE (7233) to speak with a SafeTouch expert today!