Enhancing Hospital Security with AI-Powered Threat Detection
Loma Linda Threat Reminds us, Violence in Healthcare is a Growing Concern
The recent gunman incident at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital was a sobering reminder of the increasing threat of violence in healthcare facilities. While no one was harmed, the disruption underscores a painful reality: healthcare settings are no longer immune to violence. As these incidents become more frequent, healthcare leaders must reevaluate their safety protocols and consider proactive solutions. One critical advancement in this space is AI-powered threat detection, like IntelliSee.
Violence in Healthcare: A Growing Concern
Healthcare facilities have seen a sharp rise in workplace violence, making the sector one of the most dangerous in the U.S. Studies show over 80% of nurses have experienced workplace violence in the past year. The emotional toll is high, and the physical risk even higher. From Portland to Tulsa, and now Loma Linda, hospitals across the nation have been rocked by violent events.
These aren’t isolated cases. They reflect a broader trend of rising aggression, especially in high-stress environments like emergency departments, behavioral health units, and waiting rooms. Traditional security systems, static cameras, manual observation, reactive alarms, are no longer sufficient. What healthcare needs is proactive protection and real-time threat mitigation.
Understanding AI-Powered Surveillance
IntelliSee transforms standard surveillance infrastructure into an AI-driven security solution. Rather than passively recording footage, IntelliSee continuously scans live camera feeds for threats such as:
Through deep learning and computer vision, IntelliSee differentiates between threats and non-threats, reducing false alarms and enabling faster, more accurate response.
Why This Matters: Safer Staff, Safer Patients, Lower Costs
IntelliSee’s 24/7/365 active monitoring is critical to hospital safety and security. For example, detecting a drawn weapon before it enters the facility buys the time for an organization and first responders to react and intercede before shots are fired. Being alerted that gang bangers did a dump and run at the ED entrance prepares staff and first responders for the potential follow-on violence from the rival gang following their victim. Detecting and cleaning a slip risk before someone falls prevents an injury and even a potential lawsuit, and more.
If IntelliSee had been available in 2019, it could have potentially prevented the murder of a nurse practictioner by a former employee at Froedert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The victim was brutally beaten to death by the ex-employee who was loitering in the parking garage late at night waiting for a victim. The assailant was in view of security cameras but, because cameras are generally used for after-the-fact forensics, the cameras merely recorded the tragedy vs. helping prevent it.
Every hospital faces these risks and others. We all have to do more to help but advanced technology and the ethical use of AI is a critical new and much needed safety layer.
Seconds Matter: Real-Time Alerts and Automated Response
IntelliSee’s value lies autonomous 24/7/365 monitoring and the AI-enabled situational awareness it provides. Once a threat is detected, the system sends immediate alerts to designated recipients including safety/security personnel, hospital administrators, and RapidSOS (for immediate access to first responders).
This rapid communication empowers teams with the situational awareness to act:
Lock specific access points or entire wings
Broadcast emergency codes via intercom systems
Send texts, emails, and desktop alerts to staff
Notify external emergency services through RapidSOS
Further, IntelliSee integrates with emergency communication tools like InformaCast, enabling immediate activation of mass notification systems and protocols, and public address and notification systems like AtlasIED’s IPX. By leveraging other existing safety and security infrastructure, staff and others are informed immediately to potential or pending emergency using the protocols and tools they are already familiar with.
Seamless Integration with Existing Infrastructure
One of IntelliSee’s greatest strengths is its ease of deployment. Hospitals don’t need to install new hardware. IntelliSee works with your existing video surveillance system. It’s designed to integrate with your current infrastructure:
Video management systems (VMS)
Access control systems
Public address systems
This means hospitals can implement IntelliSee quickly, cost-effectively, and without disruption to patient care.
Supporting a Culture of Safety in Healthcare
Hospitals are sacred spaces of healing, and safety should never be in question. But to truly protect staff and patients, hospitals must think beyond traditional surveillance. IntelliSee is more than a monitoring tool, it’s a safety partner that augments your team’s capabilities.
Best practices for a holistic approach to violence prevention include:
Regular risk assessments to identify vulnerable areas
Ongoing staff training and emergency response drills
Clear emergency communication protocols
Strategic placement of surveillance and access controls
Close coordination with law enforcement partners
When paired with AI threat detection, these practices create a robust, responsive, and proactive safety net.
Hospitals and others nationwide are already seeing the benefits of IntelliSee. In real-world implementations, facilities have experienced:
Faster emergency response times
Improved situational awareness for responders
Reduced costs associated with false alarms and missed incidents
Enhanced readiness for grant compliance and safety certifications
As federal grants and insurance providers begin to emphasize proactive safety investments, AI threat detection systems will become a foundational component of modern healthcare security.
Prepare Now, Not After a Crisis
The next threat may not give you a warning. But with IntelliSee, your team won’t need one. Early detection, real-time alerts, automated responses, and seamless integration, these features make IntelliSee a necessary evolution in hospital safety.
The incident at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital is yet another wake-up call. Let it be the moment you reimagine your facility’s safety and security approach.
Take proactive steps today. IntelliSee is ready to support you in safeguarding what matters most: the lives of your people and the people they serve.
To learn more about how IntelliSee’s AI-powered platform can protect your hospital from emerging threats, contact our dedicated healthcare team today.
