As workplace safety remains a top concern for healthcare workers, several health systems are responding by creating leadership roles dedicated to security and emergency preparedness.
Rising incivility continues to challenge hospitals. In 2024, separate studies showed nearly half of nurses reported increased violence in their units over the past year, and that emergency department nurses experienced verbal or physical violence on a daily basis.
In October, two organizations introduced such roles, including Baton Rouge, La.-based Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, which appointed its first chief security officer.
The system named Eric Sean Clay to the position; he oversees enterprisewide security strategy, emergency preparedness and safety operations. It is FMOL Health’s first system-level role focused solely on workplace safety and security, Chief Administrative Officer Hunter Richardson told Becker’s.
“Our team members have consistently shared that safety is one of their highest priorities in the workplace,” Mr. Richardson said. “Creating a chief security officer role allows us to align our strategy and planning around that feedback, ensuring a unified approach to safety, preparedness and security across all our facilities and the communities we serve.”
Also in October, Springfield, Ill.-based Memorial Health named Ben Wooten its inaugural vice president for emergency management and safety.
“Workplace safety is a core commitment of our leadership team,” Memorial Health COO Drew Early told Becker’s. “Our recent Culture of Safety survey confirmed that safety matters deeply to our colleagues. That’s why we’ve taken bold action to reinforce this commitment.”
Mr. Early said the new position is focused on advancing safety and emergency preparedness across the health system, including its ongoing efforts to prevent and address workplace violence.
“Our mission is clear: elevate the importance of safety across all care locations and ensure the resources are in place to protect our colleagues, patients and visitors,” he said. “This investment sends a powerful message to our workforce: We take safety seriously, and we are prioritizing your security and well-being.”
Strategic vision behind the roles
Violence and harassment from patients and visitors remain pressing concerns for hospitals nationwide. In 2025, several states have introduced or enacted legislation aimed at addressing these challenges, including expanded criminal penalties for assaulting healthcare workers. Some have even launched — or unveiled plans to launch — their own hospital police forces.
Like many systems across the U.S., Annapolis, Md.-based Luminis Health has seen a rise in workplace incidents, raising concerns about team member safety. Protecting staff, patients, families and visitors remains its top priority, said Jennifer Harrington, senior vice president and chief hospital operating officer.
In addition to a security director who oversees workplace safety and violence prevention, Luminis Health recently hired a safety and security training specialist to provide support, Ms. Harrington told Becker’s.
“Our comprehensive efforts include expanding staff training — particularly in de-escalation techniques — installing weapons detection screening systems in the emergency departments at our two main hospitals, adding new technologies to enhance staff safety focused on visitor management and access controls, and collaborating with local, state, and national leaders to develop long-term solutions to this nationwide challenge,” she said.
Evanston, Ill.-based Endeavor Health created a system assistant vice president for public safety position in June 2023. The role, held by Barney McGrane, also encompasses oversight of the system’s workplace violence prevention program.
“We’re tracking an alarming increase in violence against healthcare workers nationwide, and our team members have not been immune to that trend,” Mr. McGrane told Becker’s. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than employees from any other industry.”
The role’s evolution
Mr. Richardson expects more hospitals and health systems to adopt similar leadership positions.
“Taking this step now allows our organization to be at the forefront of that shift, advancing a culture of safety that prioritizes the wellbeing of our patients, team members, and communities,” he said.
As more hospitals become integrated into larger systems, Mr. McGrane said unified leadership roles overseeing workplace violence prevention programs will likely become more common.
“These positions are essential for coordinating resources and incorporating best practices to protect our team members,” he said.
