In today's healthcare landscape, advanced video technologies such as open platform video management systems, specialized cameras and smart sensors are becoming instrumental in providing safe, secure healthcare environments — particularly in behavioral health units. From real-time monitoring to incident management, smart video innovations can significantly improve safety in behavioral health units, where assuring patient and staff security is critical.
Around 10% to 20% of adolescent patients in inpatient psychiatric units will engage in self-harm at some point during their stay, according to BJPsych Open. This includes behaviors such as cutting, self-battery and overdosing. And unfortunately for psychiatric nurses, violence and assault in the workplace can be a fact of life. Research published in Safety and Health at Work suggests that anywhere from 24% to 80% of psychiatric nurses will be assaulted in their career. This level of violence has a substantial negative impact on the physical and emotional health of healthcare workers and on the effectiveness of the entire healthcare system.
Behavioral health units face immense challenges in balancing patient safety and quality of care. With the rise of self-harm and staff assaults, healthcare providers need innovative detection and prevention solutions. Advanced video technologies are proving instrumental in transforming these units with enhanced security, incident management and patient care capabilities.
The vital role of technology
Real-time patient and facility monitoring is essential for early intervention against self-harm attempts and aggressive behaviors. Open platform video management systems enable centralized monitoring of patient rooms, hallways and many other areas. From patient falls to violent outbursts, live video data and smart sensors can alert staff to emerging threats. Data-driven video technologies are becoming crucial in many healthcare settings for several reasons:
Patient safety: Patients in behavioral health units may be at risk of self-harm or suicide. Video technologies can improve patient safety by providing real-time video monitoring and alarms to help providers quickly identify potential safety issues and take appropriate action to prevent harm.
Staff safety: Behavioral health units can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous environments for staff. Data-driven video technologies can provide situational awareness as well as utilize analytic technologies to alert management and security staff to incidents or dangerous situations.
Staff training and education: Recorded video data can be used to provide training and education for staff on patient safety, security and incident management. Staff can improve their response to future incidents by reviewing footage of past events.
Better patient care: Recorded video data can also provide healthcare providers valuable insight into common patient behaviors and needs, which can help them deliver more proactive care.
Proactive incident detection
Today’s data-driven video management systems can be used to "watch and listen" for actions or sounds that are beyond typical. Integrated analytic software can “learn” a camera scene and recognize out-of-the-ordinary circumstances, such as people gathering, someone walking against the normal traffic flow, or flagging exaggerated movements. Cameras can identify opened doors or windows, objects left behind or someone lying on the ground — alerts can be triggered by virtually any atypical activity.
Similarly, audio sensors can alert when noise thresholds are crossed, such as with arguing or shouting. They can detect glass breaking, screams and cries for help. Air quality sensors, motion detection systems and a wide range of other devices can also be deployed. In all cases, open platform video management leverages an ever-expanding community of camera manufacturers, video analytic software developers, application developers, and device and sensor manufacturers, all working together to create a unified solution.
Open platform video management technologies can ingest, process and present vast amounts of data to management and nursing staff, allowing various departments to monitor events in real time and make informed, proactive decisions as they occur. These video management systems can also integrate with a facility's existing systems, such as access control, lighting, alarm and intercom systems — creating a comprehensive, proactive approach to safety.
By providing the ability to observe, detect and respond to situations quickly, data-driven video technologies are expanding the classic security camera system to help optimize patient outcomes and deliver a safer, more efficient hospital and behavioral unit environment. In essence, video management systems have evolved into the central platform that seamlessly integrates all this intelligence into a unified system.
By helping foster an environment where safety and care can converge, video technology innovations hold promise for providing for the safety and security of patients and their healthcare providers.
About the author
Mark Johnson is the national business development manager for healthcare at Milestone Systems. Mark is responsible for assisting healthcare organizations in maintaining safe and secure facilities. Mark is a top-performing professional with a distinguished career built upon experience, success and depth of knowledge in helping organizations create safe and efficient working environments.
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