Security Audits

In order to ensure your hospital, shopping center, or office building has a cohesive, effective, relevant and cost effective security program, a thorough security assessment is a must. The Security Audit must be qualitative as well as quantitative. The role of the Security Audit is to provide the underpinning for the entire security program.

How can any facility justify the use of security officers, CCTV or alarm systems without first conducting a Security Audit? Before purchasing a single camera or hiring the first security officer, there must be an assessment of need.

Hospital Security Audits

We believe that a security program should be a value-added service. This means that your Hospital Security program should effectively protect patients, visitors and employees. However, it doesn't end there. An area frequently ignored by many healthcare organizations is asset protection. For example, some estimates indicate that hospitals may lose as much as $3,500 per bed per year. These losses include such items as linens, medical equipment and supplies, food service inventories, and pharmaceuticals. Hospitals are increasingly losing big-ticket items such as laptop computers. Hospitals have revenue losses resulting from a wide range of employee scams. A good Hospital Security program must begin with a security survey.

An SMSI Security Audit will pay special attention to areas of special sensitivity such as the Emergency Department, L & D and postpartum, pediatrics, psychiatric and drug treatment units as well as parking facilities and more. In the area of asset protection, we will evaluate special areas of concern such as food service, pharmacies, medical supply and the business office. SMSI will evaluate both exteriors as well as interiors.

SMSI Inc. will also ensure that your hospital security program is meeting JCAHO Environment of Care standards for security. We will be sure that, where applicable, State statutes are being adhered to. SMSI will be sensitive to security components of HCFA standards. We will also help hospitals meet the security requirements necessary to ensure privacy and to protect data as required by HIPAA.

Hotel Security Audits

In the hospitality industry we will focus on guest security. We will evaluate the contribution of each employee toward an effective Hotel Security program. We will examine security procedures for supplies and equipment. Bar and restaurant operations will be scrutinized as well as related cash and credit transactions. We will also measure lighting and the application of security technology. We will review hiring practices including the applicant screening process.

Commercial Security, General Aviation Security, Apartment Security, and Shopping Center / Retail Security Audits

In both commercial and retail environments, SMSI Inc., will first evaluate and then develop Commercial Security programs that maximize ROI. Companies dealing with contract vendors such as alarm companies and/or guard companies will benefit from our security analysis in order to ensure these outsourced vendors are delivering on their contracts. We will also evaluation the threat posed by other outside contractors such as janitorial services and HVAC contractors and subsequently mitigate that threat.

Security Audit Summation

We at SMSI have been able to gain insight as to how to avoid and/or minimize the threat of lawsuits. We are familiar with the special requirements of each category of business to meet its special standard of care. Because we are familiar with the standards laid down by OSHA, our recommendations will always implicitly conform to those requirements. Furthermore, we can ensure that these standards will be met and exceeded. We will also ensure that healthcare facilities which are mandated by state laws to meet certain security standards are in full compliance. SMSI will recommend security solutions that are compliant with local fire and safety codes.

We will also continue to publish The Hospital Security Reporter, a newsletter specializing in important detailed issues pertaining to the special needs of Hospital Security. For all other facilities that are generally open to the public, we will continue to publish The SMSI Security Watch Newsletter. Electronic versions of both of these publications are offered online at no charge.

You may also want to take one of SMSI's Security Diagnostic Teststhat will rate your organization's security program.

Let SMSI develop a security program that is customized to your unique needs. Remember security strategies do not and should not lend themselves to universal standards. Security is very situational.