According to the National Library of Medicine in 2023, violence against healthcare professionals is an increasing trend:

• In European countries, 4% of active healthcare workers have been subjected to verbal or physical violence from patients or visitors
• In Turkey, 6.8% of health workers have been exposed to physical violence
• In China, 19.33% of workplace violence against healthcare workers were perpetrated by patients or visitors
• In the USA, 34.4% of the health workers reported verbal or physical workplace violence

In lights of these facts, what technologies would be most effective in overcoming this challenge?

It is critical that smart choices are made in terms of technology procurement. One solution that has been employed in hospitals, by both security and clinical staff, is the use of body worn solutions. The use of wearable solutions provides documentation of events and situations, and has shown a reduction in the overall seriousness of aggression and violence in reported incidents.

Other ways to minimize the risk of unwanted roaming are:

• Stationing staff in each wing to check IDs and ask visitors why they’re visiting
• Using video and two-way audio network intercoms so personnel can communicate with people on the other side of a door and verify them before they enter a room
• Adding a visitor management and access system to control who enters or leaves restricted areas
• Installing time in area (loitering) analytics which can flag unauthorized people lingering in areas that need to be acknowledged

It is everyone's responsibility to create a safe environment for healthcare professional and for patients alike, and integrated and unified technologies are here to help achieving this goal.