IN-HOME CARE
Keep Them Safe in Other People’s Homes
Tips for protecting staff, data & equipment
By Brian Mixdorf
In today’s challenging environment marked by rising labor expenses and increasing costs for medical supplies, how can the health care security industry support these efforts?
Furthermore, how can security leaders prepare their teams to safely extend critical care into patients’ homes without compromising personal safety? This is a complex issue that can create anxiety for those willing to take on the risk.
There are a range of facets to consider if you have clinical teams, caregivers, deliveries, technicians or more traveling into patient homes. Here are the key things as you work to protect the safety of staff, patients and more during visits and other operations:
1. Protection of Patients & Staff
- Safe entry and exit procedures: Ensure caregivers have protocols for verifying the identity of patients and household members before entering.
- Personal safety training: Equip staff with situational awareness skills and de-escalation techniques for potentially hostile environments.
2. Controlled Access to Sensitive Materials
- Medication security: Provide lockboxes for controlled substances to prevent theft or misuse.
- Medical equipment: Consider secure storage for expensive or hazardous equipment when not in use.
- Home safety checks: Evaluate for hazards like poor lighting, unsecured doors and/or windows or unsafe neighborhoods.
- Travel safety: Enable route planning and GPS tracking for caregivers to avoid high-risk areas.
3. Asset Protection
- Vehicle security: Caregivers often transport medical supplies, so vehicles should have secure compartments.
- Identification Badges: Prevent impersonation by requiring visible, verifiable identification for staff.
4. Compliance & Privacy
- HIPAA considerations: Provide physical safeguards for patient information during home visits.
- Regulatory requirements: Adhere to state and federal guidelines for controlled substances and medical device storage.
5. Incident Response
- Reporting protocols: Clear steps for staff to report theft, assault, or suspicious activity.
- Law enforcement coordination: It is helpful to have pre-established contacts for rapid response in emergencies.
Protecting the Team Is Paramount
Ensuring the safety of health care workers is critical, particularly when care is provided in a patient’s home. In such environments, patients often have an advantage due to their
familiarity with the setting, which can increase the vulnerability of workers. This dynamic creates a heightened risk of assault should a patient choose to act aggressively.
Implementing effective safety measures is therefore essential to protect staff and maintain a secure care environment.
Worker safety measures should include the following
1. Indoor Safe Chemical Spray
Deployable in bedrooms, kitchens, and other small living spaces, effectively mitigating threats without compromising the safety of healthcare workers. The irritant utilizes a water-based, food-grade formula that is harmless, even for sensitive individuals such as children and the elderly. Compact, user-friendly canisters are designed for quick access during emergencies, easily carried and operable with one hand.
2. Satellite-Enabled Panic Devices
Devices that integrate panic buttons with satellite communication ensure that alerts are transmitted to monitoring centers, even in remote locations or areas with limited connectivity.
3. Body-Worn & Other Cameras
Devices such as body-worn cameras are designed for community health care settings to help deter aggression, document incidents, and provide evidence for de-escalation efforts or liability protection.
4. GPS Tracking & Check-In Systems
Mobile phone applications and devices enable agencies to establish defined work zones, monitor travel, ensure regular check-ins, and implement missed-response protocols. These features provide real-time verification of caregiver safety.
The successful deployment of any safety tool intended to protect home health care workers requires comprehensive vetting for insurance and risk compliance prior to implementation.
Organizations adopting these tools assume a certain level of risk and must carefully balance potential claims, public relations considerations and other risk factors against their responsibility to ensure employee safety in unfamiliar environments.
Home healthcare offers undeniable benefits for patients and health systems, but it also introduces new safety challenges. By investing in robust security measures, training, and technology, organizations can ensure that caregivers deliver quality care without compromising personal safety.
Brian Mixdorf is national health care security and safety consultant with Crotega Safety Solutions. He is a dedicated and accomplished security operations professional with more than 30 years of experience in security, risk mitigation and emergency management. As regional security field operations for a health care system in Minnesota, he oversees the implementation of strategic security initiatives across multiple sites, ensuring the safety of personnel, assets, and infrastructure. Mixdorf holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Cloud State University and maintains professional certification as a Certified Fraud Examiner. Visit crotega.com.
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