Our Secure Places Aren't So Secure
We all think places like hospitals are safe and secure from people who should't be there. Not so as the latest Brigham And Women's Hospital security fail clearly shows us.

Like many of you, when I go to a hospital, it is usually not because I really want to be there. The last thing on most of our minds is being safe and secure while in the place we are going to get better. Major failures in healthcare security happen more often than anyone realize.
Yet, her ability to enter restricted operating room suites — without an identification badge — shows how difficult it can be to enforce security in institutions that teem with thousands of patients, families, and staff each day. Brigham officials said their review of security video and other evidence shows she gained access to five operating rooms over two days.
Source: Dressed in scrubs, she roamed the hospital. But she wasn’t supposed to be there. - The Boston Globe

The article we sourced and linked to describes a worst case scenario across many locations. Luckily no bodily harm was done in this situation and the person was eventually identified and dealt with.

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Concerns for Healthcare
Healthcare is in the spotlight for a lot of reasons. We all want to trust the powers that be to ensuring our safety while in their care. The reality is that healthcare is vulnerable in many areas. Hospitals and providers alike have new regulations that they have to comply with, as well as a more vocal workforce. Nurses and healthcare workers are the number one group affected by workplace violence. The old standard of "check the box" training and compliance is quickly going to have to come to an end.

What can healthcare do? Get up to speed. Take a really hard look at all areas of security, and realistically determine weaknesses and seek improvements. Seek better training. Make better and more effective policies that actually work beyond the paper they are written on.
What can the individual do?
As we always say, on almost every episode you are solely responsible for your safety. But what about these situations where you aren't ultimately in control? It is difficult. Especially when system wide changes must be made. Begin to have the conversation, proactively, with your doctor and your local hospital. Look for open forums and ask the specific questions about site vulnerability, patient and staff safety, personal information security, and so on. This is not an easy or quick fix. This will take time and effort from all of us.
We are Full Circle Systems Security & Defense
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by clicking here. Also, you can call us toll free at 1-877-474-6050. Don't let another day go by without a good plan in place and trained people. We are here to serve you.