Police often use body cameras to hold officers accountable. Recently, some hospital systems have hired these employees to fill positions such as emergency department security and mental health office staff.
A recent study by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Foundation examined 53 hospitals/health systems that use cameras (and 57 hospitals that do not use cameras). Their answers and the topics covered are a good starting point for potential story ideas for journalists.
The bottom line? The use of body cameras increases trust in police officers, enhances safety for hospital personnel, better record-keeping, better customer service, better training, and more professional conduct for hospitals and security personnel. And it could lead to better protection against false claims, the researchers said. Author Scott Hill, PhD, executive director of King’s Daughters Health System in Ashland, Kentucky, spoke during a Becker’s Hospital Review webinar.
He said about 78% of hospitals used body-worn camera footage to resolve disputes within the hospital, and 22% used camera footage in court. According to the IAHSS survey, most hospitals (95.7%) believed cameras were worth the cost.
History of body cameras
According to the IAHSS white paper, a body-worn camera is a wearable audio, video, and photo recording system that typically consists of a camera, a microphone, and a rechargeable battery with data storage capabilities. Some devices offer live streaming and GPS location data.
Law enforcement agencies began using body cameras around 2005, but their use has increased significantly over the past decade. By 2016, about 95% of police departments in large cities and counties surveyed were using cameras, according to the white paper. Camera proponents believe they deter violence, reduce excessive use of force, improve transparency and trust, and enhance recording of incidents.
Camera use in the private sector is estimated to increase by more than $1 billion between 2020 and 2025. Medical settings where cameras are used include:
Security guards and hospital-based law enforcement. Emergency medical services. Home health visit. Nurses in psychiatric/behavioral health units and emergency departments. Key findings of the IAHSS survey
Hill said some hospitals reportedly used camera footage to discredit complaints of rough and rough conduct by officers. All participating hospitals said the cameras made their guards feel protected from false accusations and were more confident in using legitimate force or restraint. Hospitals using the cameras also said they believe they have an overall positive effect by increasing patient care staff safety and aiding customer service.
Most of the hospitals surveyed agreed that body-worn cameras have changed the way security guards and police interact with people entering the hospital, including providing a more professional response. They also agree that since introducing the cameras, they are keeping records of incidents that may not have been recorded before.
“I remember starting my career as a security guard, and in the beginning, all we had was a radio,” Hill said. One study participant liked the cameras because “everyone can see exactly what happened and who said what,” Hill said. “How many of us have ever done a lengthy investigation where we wished we had some kind of video?”
Increase in reported physical altercations
Hill said reported assaults, disorderly conduct and use of force all increased after some sites introduced the use of body cameras. This may be due to some previously undocumented incidents. Additionally, hospitals that have increased security measures such as metal detectors and cameras typically record a higher number of these types of incidents.
Because security guards are protected by body-worn cameras, they tend to physically engage with aggressive people early in the encounter, which can deter more violent behavior, Hill said. It is said that there is a possibility. Participants said they used body cameras when security guards and clinical staff initially used body cameras. Concerns about being monitored were quickly alleviated after implementation.
One reason hospitals are adopting cameras is liability, Hill said. Participants who used body cameras said that after reviewing the video footage, the case was dropped and the cameras prevented false claims.
Main reasons for not using cameras included cost, patient privacy concerns, legal issues, and video storage.
HIPAA compliant
Hill said the camera footage is HIPAA compliant (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) and that the hospital’s policies and procedures and how the video is processed and released meet HIPAA requirements. I said that there is. payments and operations.
This largely applies to operational departments. ”
In the Hill Health System, officers begin recording when they respond to an incident and then stop recording. The cameras are docked at the end of the day and the footage is encrypted and uploaded to a secure platform. Only authorized personnel can access it.
Hill and his colleagues are working on a new study analyzing nurses’ use of body cameras. In 2022, IAHSS released guidelines for body-worn cameras in healthcare.
Potential Story Ideas/Angles How are hospitals in your area/state using body cameras? What types of outcomes are they tracking? Are hospital security guards aware of wearing cameras? How do you feel? How do ER directors and medical staff feel about the use of body cameras? How have hospitals used body camera footage to protect themselves from lawsuits? Medicine Angle Business: What is the market for body-worn cameras? How are the devices selling? resource
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