SECURITY PROGRAMS CREATED AND OPERATED USING THE INDUSTRY’S BEST PRACTICES
Securing over 360 healthcare and medical facilities across North America, our team of experts helps to create safe cultures with security programs that are proven to keep healthcare environments secure.
We offer an unmatched collection of dedicated healthcare security services, but the real value we provide is in the tailored programs we create for your healthcare facility.
- Professionally trained healthcare security officers
- High-risk patient watch services and patient safety aid programs
- Emergency department and other high-risk department staffing
- Workplace violence prevention and safe patient management
- Parking and valet management
- Healthcare security consulting and a vast array of healthcare-specific risk, training and investigative services
- Security systems technology
- Security master planning
OUR EXPERT'S ENTIRE CAREERS ARE IN HEALTHCARE SECURITY. THEIR EXPERIENCE IS AT YOUR DISPOSAL
Our experts grew up in healthcare and are actively involved in shaping the healthcare security industry today — determining policies and building industry standards and guidelines, leading training initiatives, and speaking at thought-leadership events. The healthcare industry turns to PalAmerican's team to address the most pressing security issues. You can be confident in our abilities, and more importantly, assured that your healthcare security program meets the expected standard of care. We reinforce our commitment to the highest standards by providing dedicated career paths that fuel a sustained leadership pipeline.
WHEN AN INCIDENT HAPPENS, YOU WANT US TO RESPOND
Our services start with our specialized healthcare security officers, and that requires hiring and training the right people. Our experts influence IAHSS recognized best practices and the standard of care within the healthcare industry. We lead the way in patient-centric training and focus on the safety and well-being of staff and patients. Our foundational officer training far exceeds security industry standards. When coupled with our renowned healthcare training system, this ensures our officers are equipped with the tools, knowledge and resources to proactively manage patient and visitor-generated violence, and to excel in their job of keeping healthcare safe. Our selection standards and high-quality training produce confident officers whose skills lead to fewer staff and patient injuries.
SECURITY STAFFING SERVICES
We can provide all security departmental levels, from security officers to leadership positions. We have the training standards and systems for each level and can confidently supply our team with the additional tools and defensive equipment certain healthcare environments may require.
Complementing our security guard services, we offer:
- Security operations centers
- Mobile and bike patrol services
- Visitor screening and other front-door ambassador services
- Emergency, on-demand, and surge capacity coverage
- Automated physical security patrols and artificial intelligence (AI)
TRAINING AND CONSULTATION
PalAmerican’s industry leaders can provide your facility with healthcare-specific risk, training and security consulting:
- Security vulnerability assessments
- Accreditation preparation and regulatory compliance reviews
- Focused reviews on areas of higher risk
- Violence risk assessments
- Active assailant training
- Violent patient management training programs and initiatives for healthcare staff
- Healthcare violence training and response programs for emergency department ambassadors, high-risk patient watch, and patient safety aid programs
Patient WatchManaging patient behavior under clinical direction
Security Guard ServicesIndustry-leading security officers for healthcare facilities
Emergency Management & Business ContinuityEmergency management & business continuity from our experts
Healthcare Security ConsultingSecurity consulting services for the healthcare industry
FAQs
How can healthcare security help improve staff safety?
Healthcare security helps improve staff safety through a visible security presence, rapid incident response, workplace violence prevention support, access control, and skilled de-escalation in high-stress environments. A strong healthcare security program supports both physical safety and psychological safety by helping caregivers feel that risks will be addressed quickly and professionally.
When healthcare staff feel safe and supported, engagement can improve, stress may be reduced, and retention can be strengthened. A professional, service-oriented healthcare security team also contributes to a welcoming, secure environment for patients, visitors, clinicians, and families.
Is PalAmerican a leader in healthcare security?
Yes. PalAmerican is recognized for specialized healthcare security services, healthcare-specific training, workplace violence prevention support, and experience in complex care environments. PalAmerican’s healthcare security programs help hospitals, health systems, and care facilities strengthen safety for staff, patients, visitors, and the broader care environment.
PalAmerican’s healthcare practice is supported by experienced healthcare security leaders and trained professionals who understand the unique needs of hospitals, emergency departments, behavioral health settings, long-term care environments, and other healthcare facilities.
What security challenges do healthcare facilities face?
Healthcare facilities face complex security challenges because they operate in high-stress, public, and often unpredictable environments. Key risks can include workplace violence, patient or visitor aggression, unauthorized access, behavioral health crises, theft, elopement, parking and perimeter concerns, emergency incidents, and the protection of vulnerable patients, staff, and sensitive areas.
Effective healthcare security requires more than a visible presence. Facilities need specially trained security officers who understand clinical operations, partner closely with care teams, use proven de-escalation techniques, support workplace violence prevention programs, and help create a safe, welcoming environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
Why is healthcare security important for workplace violence prevention?
Healthcare security is essential to workplace violence prevention because healthcare workers can face elevated risk from patient aggression, visitor conflict, behavioral health crises, substance use, and other high-stress situations. Effective security programs help identify and reduce risks through threat awareness, early intervention, de-escalation, access control, incident response, and strong documentation.
PalAmerican’s healthcare security professionals work with clinical teams to support safer care environments, strengthen situational awareness, and respond effectively to emerging risks. By combining healthcare-specific training with a patient-centered approach, security teams can help protect caregivers while supporting positive patient and visitor experiences.
What should healthcare facilities look for in a patient watch security provider?
Healthcare facilities should look for a patient watch security provider with healthcare-specific training, experience in patient-centered care environments, and a strong understanding of behavioral health, staff safety, workplace violence prevention, and de-escalation. Effective patient watch personnel should be skilled in observation, communication, crisis response, trauma-informed security practices, and collaboration with clinical teams.
The right patient watch provider should maintain clear escalation protocols, rigorous training standards, consistent supervision, reliable documentation, and flexible staffing for different healthcare settings and patient populations. Patient watch security should support safety while respecting patient dignity and helping care teams reduce risk.
What is patient watch security in a healthcare setting?
Patient watch security provides close observation and support for patients who may present an elevated risk to themselves, staff, visitors, or other patients. It is commonly used in emergency departments, behavioral health settings, inpatient units, long-term care environments, and other clinical areas where additional safety support is needed.
Trained patient watch security personnel work closely with clinical teams, follow site-specific care and safety protocols, monitor changes in behavior, support de-escalation, and help prevent incidents that could disrupt care or create risk for staff, patients, or visitors.
Can patient watch services help reduce workplace injury claims in healthcare facilities?
Patient watch services can help reduce workplace injury risk by proactively managing higher-risk situations before they escalate into staff injuries. While no program can eliminate every incident, trained patient watch personnel provide supportive monitoring, early intervention, and effective de-escalation to reduce exposure to patient aggression, behavioral escalations, self-harm events, and other preventable safety risks.
When integrated with clinical operations, patient watch services can support safer patient management, faster response to changing conditions, and more consistent incident documentation and reporting. By helping reduce staff exposure to high-risk situations, patient watch programs can contribute to improved workplace safety outcomes, fewer lost-time incidents, and a stronger culture of safety.