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A comprehensive, data-driven look at the state of hospital and healthcare security — including workplace violence rates, financial costs, staffing challenges, and what administrators can do to protect their people.
Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing — but for the people who work in them, they've become some of the most dangerous workplaces in America. Violence against healthcare workers has reached crisis levels, with nurses, emergency physicians, and support staff facing assaults, threats, and verbal abuse on a near-daily basis.
This page compiles the most current and authoritative hospital security statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the CDC, and leading healthcare research organizations. Whether you're a hospital administrator, a facility manager, or a security professional, these numbers tell the story of why professional hospital security isn't optional — it's essential.
The numbers paint a stark picture. Healthcare is, by a wide margin, the industry most affected by workplace violence in the United States.
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of nonfatal workplace violence injuries suffered by healthcare workers | 48% | CDC via CNN, 2024 |
| Healthcare workers as share of total U.S. workforce | 10% | CDC via CNN, 2024 |
| Nurses who experienced workplace violence in past year | 81.6% | National Nurses United, 2024 |
| Emergency physicians who've been victims of violence (or know one who has) | 91% | ACEP, 2024 |
| ER physicians who say violence is "worse than last year" | 71% | ACEP, 2024 |
| Healthcare workers who faced increased violence | 55% | Security Magazine, 2026 |
To put this in perspective: healthcare workers represent just one in ten American workers, yet they endure nearly half of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries. No other industry comes close.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks "DART" cases — injuries serious enough to require days away from work, restricted duty, or job transfer. The healthcare sector's numbers dwarf every other industry:
The healthcare violence rate of 14.2 per 10,000 workers is nearly 5x the national average across all industries. This isn't a niche problem — it's an industry-wide crisis.
While violence touches every department in a hospital, certain roles bear a disproportionate share of the burden.
Women bear the overwhelming brunt of nonfatal healthcare violence:
While most hospital violence is nonfatal, deadly incidents do occur:
The AHA's landmark 2025 report quantified the financial burden of violence on U.S. hospitals for the first time at this scale — and the numbers are staggering.
| Cost Category | Annual Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total annual cost of violence to U.S. hospitals | $18.27 billion | AHA, 2025 |
| Post-event costs (treatment, workers' comp, turnover, litigation) | $14.65 billion | AHA, 2025 |
| Pre-event prevention costs (security, training, environmental design) | $3.62 billion | AHA, 2025 |
| Total U.S. hospital security spending | $4.7 billion | PMC/Grossman & Choucair, 2024 |
| Security spending specifically on violence prevention | $847 million | PMC/Grossman & Choucair, 2024 |
| Spending on specific environmental security measures | $185.2 million | AHA Report, 2025 |
The critical takeaway: hospitals spend $3.62 billion trying to prevent violence, yet the $14.65 billion in post-event costs — four times higher — shows that current prevention measures aren't keeping up with the problem. Every dollar invested in better security has the potential to save four dollars in aftermath costs.
"Hospital administrators often tell us they didn't realize how severe the problem was until they saw the data. When we deploy security teams in healthcare facilities, the number one feedback from nurses and ER staff is simply: 'Thank you — we finally feel safe coming to work.' That reaction tells you everything about how bad it's gotten."
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive Vice President, Building Security Services
The violence crisis in hospitals doesn't just harm individuals — it's accelerating the nationwide healthcare staffing shortage. Workers who are assaulted, threatened, or who witness violence develop lasting psychological effects that drive them out of the profession.
When 40% of your workforce is considering walking out the door because they don't feel safe, you don't have a security line item — you have a retention crisis that threatens patient care. The cost of replacing a single registered nurse averages $46,000–$56,000, meaning that violence-driven turnover costs hospitals far more than the security investments that could prevent it.
Violence doesn't just hurt staff — it hurts patients. When nurses and physicians are anxious, burned out, or understaffed due to turnover, care quality suffers. Studies consistently show that healthcare workers experiencing violence have higher rates of medical errors, lower patient satisfaction scores, and reduced compassion — all of which cascade into worse outcomes for the people hospitals exist to serve.
Hospitals are investing more in security than ever before — but the data suggests spending is still heavily skewed toward reaction rather than prevention.
Modern hospital security is a layered approach that combines people, technology, and process:
Hospital violence exists within a larger national context of workplace violence that has been trending upward for years.
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total fatal workplace injuries (2023) | 5,283 | OSHA/BLS CFOI |
| Fatalities from violent acts (2023) | 740 | OSHA |
| Workplace homicides (2023) | 458 | OSHA |
| Workplace homicides (2022) — series high | 524 | BLS |
| Total nonfatal workplace violence DART cases (annualized, 2021–2022) | 57,610 | BLS |
| Nonfatal workplace injuries/illnesses, private industry (2023) | 2.6 million | BLS |
Healthcare's dominance in workplace violence statistics becomes even clearer when compared to other industries:
Source: BLS Workplace Violence Factsheet, 2022
The data makes one thing clear: hospitals that invest in comprehensive, professional security programs see better outcomes for staff, patients, and their bottom line. Here's what the evidence supports:
Having trained, professional security officers on-site — particularly in emergency departments, psychiatric units, and parking areas — is the single most effective deterrent. Officers trained in healthcare-specific de-escalation can resolve situations before they turn violent.
Restricting and monitoring entry points reduces unauthorized access and gives staff early warning of potential threats. Modern access control systems integrate badge readers, visitor management, and real-time alerts.
Security cameras serve a dual purpose: deterring potential aggressors and providing evidence for investigations. CCTV monitoring is especially critical in parking lots, stairwells, and other low-visibility areas.
Hospitals need clear, practiced protocols for code responses — including duress alarms, lockdown procedures, and rapid response teams. Security risk assessments can identify gaps before incidents occur.
The most effective hospital security programs combine human presence with technology — officers who know the facility and the staff, supported by cameras, access control, and communication systems. Neither alone is sufficient.
"What we've seen at BSS is that hospitals need security officers who understand healthcare — not just access control, but patient de-escalation, HIPAA awareness, and the emotional dynamics of an ER at 2 AM. When you put the right trained officers in the right positions, incident rates drop dramatically. It's not about intimidation — it's about creating an environment where both patients and staff feel protected."
— Amanda DeAlmeida, Executive Vice President, Building Security Services
All statistics cited on this page are sourced from publicly available reports by government agencies, industry associations, and peer-reviewed publications. Data was compiled in February 2026. Where date ranges are specified, the most recent available data was used.
Building Security Services provides trained, healthcare-specialized security officers for hospitals, clinics, and medical campuses across New York and New Jersey.
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