What You Need to Know
Spotlight on Security
In light of recent events, we have reviewed and updated our Workplace Safety education. HMH is committed to providing a safe work environment. Please review the education and share with your teams accordingly.
HMH Security Services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure the safety and security of our team members, patients, visitors and guests.
If you ever feel unsafe, contact Security for an escort into or out of the hospital. After notifying Security Services, be sure to enter a OneLink. OneLinks should be entered following any incident of workplace violence, or potential harm or risk.
Clinicians and team members must wear an ID badge at all times. Position it above the waist, without anything covering or enclosing it.
According to the American Hospital Association, violence against hospital employees has been on the rise over the past few years. Hackensack Meridian Health strives to provide a safe workplace environment.
HMH Security at Our Hospitals
- HMH Security Services operates and can be reached 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Their priority is to ensure the safety and security of our team members, patients, visitors and guests.
- HMH Security Services frequently round HMH facilities inside and outside.
- If you ever feel unsafe, contact Security for an escort into or out of the hospital.
- If you see something, say something. Report situations and things that do not seem right.
- After notifying Security Services, always be sure to enter a OneLink. OneLinks should be entered following any incident of workplace violence, or potential harm or risk.
- ID badges should be worn at all times above the waist, and not be covered or enclosed.
In an Event of an Emergency:
- Contact the hospital operator ext. 7777 to initiate the notification process for the specific emergency.
- When calling the operator.
- Use plain language,
- Name the category of alert: Facility Alert, Security Alert, Medical Alert, and
- Repeat the request with the location three times.
- This call will prompt an overhead page and a rapid security response.
- This call will prompt an overhead page and a rapid security response.
Example:
- Security Alert (category of alert) + Civil Disturbance (type of emergency) + Ackerman 3 East (Location)
- Security Alert + Civil Disturbance + Ackerman 3 East
- Security Alert + Civil Disturbance + Ackerman 3 East
Maintain Awareness
It is important to maintain situational awareness and report any suspicious activity immediately. Clinicians and team members should report all observed aggressive and suspicious behaviors to security immediately.
Workplace Violence is an act or threat occurring at the workplace that can include any of the following: verbal, written, or physical aggression; threatening, intimidating, harassing, or humiliating words or actions; bullying; sabotage; sexual harassment; or physical assaults involving staff, licensed practitioners, patients, or visitors.
Hackensack Meridian Health strives to reduce workplace violence through:
- Leadership commitment to a safe environment
- Security support response
- Workplace violence assessments
- Workplace violence committees
- Review and action planning from prior data event reports
- Technology and physical controls
HMH Anti-Violence Program
Hackensack Meridian Health established its anti-violence program in June 2022. It consists of various committees aimed at a safe workplace environment for team members. The Network Anti-Violence Committee is a multi-disciplinary team comprised of team members from nursing, communications, risk, safety, security, training and education, and patient experience. The focus of this committee is to standardize programs that impact workplace violence, meeting monthly to review major initiatives. The Network Anti-Violence Subcommittee and the HMH Workplace Violence Prevention Committee meet as needed to discuss additional issues such as data collection and reporting and tracking.
Resources
- Active Shooter/Threat Awareness Response Information