The Importance of Data Metrics in Healthcare Security Operations

September 29^th Michael Hodges, blogger for Proactive Security posted, “Two main reasons security leaders must have effective data programs: an open conversation on healthcare security and violence prevention.” In his blog Michael talks about data and how data allows us to manage resource allocation more effectively. He discusses how data is a valuable tool when collected reliably, analyzed effectively, and utilized in daily decision making.

In his second blog on data, Michael goes on to talk about strategic intelligence and its advantages for managing the security environment. He talks about how data allows us to tell our story in a more meaningful way. Telling a story on what we do on a daily basis and illustrates it in a way that brings weight to that story and validity to our purpose. 

It is nice to see other security professionals touting the benefits of data analysis. Since the beginning of my security career I have been a proponent of data gathering and analysis, and have worked to promote the effectiveness of data analysis in managing healthcare security departments. As Michael stated in his blog, data tells a great story and when used effectively it promotes success for the security director.  Data is the language of the C-suite, without data Security can not be an integral part of the management team.

Today, the majority of healthcare institutions I visit collect data. However, what is most important is what is done once the data is collected. To achieve strategic intelligence it is data analysis that is most important. Many healthcare institutions do not know how to effectively analyze the data they collect. This process can be easy.  For the most part frequency of occurrence over a definitive time period, like a month, is the only data manipulation that is necessary. Tracking the number of times an event occurs compared to prior months can provide all of the information that is needed. For example, if the number of patient property thefts increases over a period of a month compared to prior months it indicates that patient property incidents are on the rise.

The next step in data analysis is what to do with the information obtained from the analysis. This process is more complicated but is the essence of strategic intelligence. This means implementing remediation measures that will effectively change the data courve. Using the same example, further analysis on the location of the increase in patient property thefts will help to reduce the frequency of occurrence. Again the frequency of events is most important. The nursing units or locations within the hospital that have the highest frequency of thefts is where the focus of remediation should occur. Lastly, continued monitoring needs to continue so it can be determined that the remediation remedies put in place are working effectively. 

I have published several articles on the topic and have presented to many organizations on the benefits of using data to manage security operations and planning. The three articles listed below were published in the Journal of Healthcare Protection Management and outline some of the data that a healthcare security operation can use to effectively manage their operations. The articles are posted on the website under, “Related Articles and Commentary.” They are:

• An Alternative View in the Development of Healthcare Security Metrics
• A Metrics Based Model for Risk Assessment
• Applying Metrics to 21st Century Healthcare Security 

Early in my career I published an article in Security Journal entitled, “Situational Crime Prevention Used in an Urban Hospital Setting” based on a study conducted at Bellevue Hospital it demonstrates how data can effectively reduce crime within the hospital and predict criminal activity within the healthcare organization. This article is also available in the “Related Articles and Commentary” section of the website. 

Please give the articles a read, I think you will find them helpful. Also, check out my resource page and reach out if you are thinking of developing a data analytics program to use data to better manage your security operations.