How Visibility May Reduce Security Issues in Community Hospitals’ Emergency Departments

Abstract

This research explored the relationship between visibility and the level of security risks as perceived by nurses and physicians in emergency departments (EDs). Security in EDs has been reported as a major global concern, and visibility has been identified as a design factor impacting behavior. However, few previous studies have rigorously investigated the role of visibility in reduction of ED security risks with evidence-based design approach. There is a lot of significant questions about how visibility impacts the reduction of security issues in EDs. Methods: How visibility may influence ED security was explored via qualitative methods in five EDs using semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 17 clinical staff and 48 hr of field observations. The coding process for both interviews and observational notes followed the principles of naturalistic inquiry. Results: The findings suggest security risks can be decreased by improving visibility. Medical staff (registered nurses and physicians) felt more secure in the EDs with higher visibility. Discussion: This study provides a framework to identify preferable levels of visibility in EDs and proposes design strategies to minimize security issues. Registered nurses and physicians can improve their team’s sense of security by considering visibility throughout their daily practices.