The term “hospital safety officer” refers to a variety of positions in a hospital that all involve monitoring some aspect of safety, from physical to environmental. The job responsibilities differ depending on which position a safety officer holds. In order to occupy certain positions, people interested in becoming hospital safety officers must usually complete training and certification programs, as well as possess some special skills.
A security officer is one type of safety officer. A hospital’s security officers are responsible for keeping the premises physically safe for patients, staff, and visitors. Controlling dangerous patients, removing unnecessary people from treatment rooms, and other security tasks may be performed a safety officer who handles security. If a hospital is caring for someone who requires additional safety precautions, security officers will work to devise a plan to keep that person safe and secure throughout their stay.
Workplace safety is a concern for other hospital safety officers. These individuals are in charge of preventing workplace accidents through education, policy development, and adherence to regulatory guidelines. An officer who keeps the workplace safe from occupational hazards may specialize in a particular area, such as radiation safety, or work more broadly to inspect working conditions, educate employees, and take other measures to keep hospitals safe and healthy places to work.
A person in charge of patient safety is another type of hospital safety officer. These individuals establish protocols that are intended to reduce the risk of medical errors. They collaborate with employees to develop systems to prevent problems like improper medication administration. When an error occurs, hospital safety officers are part of the response team, working to determine the cause of the error and prevent similar mistakes from occurring in the future.
A good hospital safety officer is at ease with the general public and is well-versed in health-care settings. Attendance at a workplace health and safety program may be required, and a nursing degree may be recommended for patient safety officers so that they are familiar with medical care. People in these positions are paid differently depending on where they work and their level of experience. Reduced hospital fees and eligibility for health care plans are two examples of possible benefits.