Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
ManagementPhysicalSectorsThe Security Benchmark ReportSecurity Leadership and ManagementPhysical SecurityHospitals & Medical Centers

Eric Smith: The Emotional Value of Security

A Security 500 Thought Leader Profile

Eric Smith Security Magazine November 2017
November 1, 2017

Denver Health is an integrated healthcare organization in Colorado, serving approximately 150,000 individuals in the Denver area. Eric Smith, Director of Security Services, has been working to reframe the enterprise’s security department as a business-enabling function instead of a quick fix.

Previously, he says, the security solution has been to assign a contract security officer to a new location after an incident, but the attitude is shifting to a broader look at how the security department can be a partner with other departments, whether it’s with engineering on access control systems, with construction on new building designs or remodels, or with the emergency department to listen to their needs and address them thoroughly.

“We want to make the hospital a safe place to come for anybody who needs service here,” says Smith. “And that’s an important business function as well, because we want to attract more patients to support our mission.”

Smith, who has a degree in international business and marketing, spent 11 years as a police officer and 10 years in healthcare security with a contract service, eventually joining Denver Health as their security leader in December 2016, where he leads a team of 80 full-time contract security officers.

The risks he faces shift almost daily – from mental health patients desperately trying to evade doctors to anti-smoking initiatives to parking lot safety – but one major, sector-wide challenge stays consistent: workplace violence.

“As an organization, we’ve been trying to create a workplace violence checklist that helps all staff members understand what steps they can take, how they’ll be supported if they’re the victim of violence,” Smith says. “We do try to encourage staff to file police reports; if they do that, they are supported by the hospital. We really try to create an environment where everyone understands that it’s not okay to be assaulted at work. No one should go to work and have to come home with a bloody nose or a black eye or other more severe injuries. We’re working to get that message out and let our staff know it’s not okay or part of their jobs to be a victim of violence.”

In addition to communicating the resources and support available to employees, training is provided so employees can recognize the signs of escalating violent behavior and how to respond.

Smith uses “Gemba walks” (a Six Sigma technique where Smith tours the property and talks with staff and security officers to learn their challenges and concerns), detailed metrics and benchmarking between facilities, and customer service surveys and feedback to find gaps in security coverage and how to fill them.

“We really try to create an environment where everyone understands that it’s not okay to be assaulted at work.”

“To me, the value of security is almost an emotional value, and fundamentally there are two questions I really want to get to the bottom of to improve the overall perception of security. One is: Do staff feel safe at work? If we can get the answer to that question, that really shows how people feel about the security program and how well it’s doing at protecting them while they’re at work, when they’re coming to and from their cars and so forth. The other is: How involved are officers in their jobs? Are they just going through the motions or are they really concerned about maintaining that level of safety and a secure environment? In my experience, you can do surveys, but it’s a little more of a gut feeling – going out and talking to officers at their posts and get their feedback about how they feel about their jobs, how they feel they’re perceived by other people in the hospital, their level of involvement, and how attuned they are with what they’re doing.”

Despite working with a contract security officer service, Smith has noticed that the officers feel like they are part of the Denver Health staff: they know the nurses, doctors and staff, and many have been with the organization for years, not just floating through for one shift or two. “If any kind of critical incident comes up, they are racing to the scene without hesitation to protect staff,” he says, adding that he works hard to meet and listen to the officers to give them the resources to do their jobs better.

In his free time, Smith enjoys writing, reading and camping or hiking in the mountains, where he suffers some good-natured ribbing from his family about always locking the trailer before walking away, even in those “out-of-the-way, forgotten places.”

 

Security Scorecard

Annual Revenue: $2.75 billion

Security Budget: $4 million

 

Critical Issues

• Workplace Violence

• Staffing

• Security Technology

KEYWORDS: hospital security security awareness training security benchmarking security thought leaders workplace violence

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Columns
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Fountain pen

Trump Administration Executive Order Changes Cybersecurity Policy

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Security Benchmark Report Survey 2021

    How do you define the value of security?

    See More
  • Tax and budget documents

    The value of security: building the foundation for modern enterprises

    See More
  • artificial intelligence

    How to unlock the hidden value of security technology

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9780367259044.jpg

    Understanding Homeland Security: Foundations of Security Policy

  • Physical-Security-and-Safet.gif

    Physical Security and Safety: A Field Guide for the Practitioner

  • Risk-Analysis.gif

    Risk Analysis and the Security Survey, 4th Edition

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing