Security officers to begin wearing body cameras in early April

PROVIDENCE OREGON – To further enhance the safety of Providence caregivers, patients and visitors, Providence security officers throughout all Oregon ministries will begin wearing body cameras in early April. Most start Monday, April 1.

The body cameras will be worn on the chest as standard equipment by the officers and will only be activated when needed. The cameras have features that ensure caregiver privacy and HIPAA compliance, including mute and blur functions.

This follows body camera trials and implementation at Providence ministries in Washington and Alaska.

• At Providence Swedish and South Puget Sound ministries, care teams noted a decrease in the number and severity of workplace violence events.
• Providence Alaska security officers have seen improved violence prevention, with the ability to provide more detailed case reports and improved education for officers and all caregivers.

“We consider the body cameras to be another tool for our officers to use in challenging situations,” said Jeni Burnett, senior director security for Providence Oregon. “We know people often change their behavior and deescalate when they realize they are being videotaped. We look forward to the difference the body cameras will make in keeping our caregivers, patients, and visitors safe.”
 

Learn more

The Providence policy on body cameras provides complete details on the program and can be found on PolicyStat. 
 

FAQs

See answers to questions you, your patients or visitors might have:

As a patient/caregiver, how am I supposed to know that I am being recorded?  
The body camera that the officer is wearing will have a red LED light on the center of the camera indicating that it is recording. Also, officers are required to verbally state that they are recording once they activate the camera, when practical.   

What safeguards are in place to protect my identity and privacy?  
Video recordings are stored on a secure network with restricted access. A limited number of approved personnel will be able to review recorded footage and redact sensitive or confidential audio and video as necessary. This includes the ability to blur faces, names, etc. 

Will officers record everything?  
Body cameras are manually activated to record per company policy and are most commonly used to capture information to corroborate an investigation/incident across our campuses.

At what point do officers begin recording with their body cameras?  
The threshold for recording is anything the officer feels is a “recordable event.” Recordable events can range from making contact with someone, to escorting someone out of the building, as well as during safety searches, code grays, crimes occurring on property, use-of-force situations and other events.  

What if I choose not to be recorded?  
That might not be an option once the recording starts. Per policy, officers are required to continue recording until the situation is resolved or deescalated to preserve the integrity of the event.

Why is Providence investing in body cameras?  
We routinely look for ways to reduce workplace violence and enhance the safety of our ministries for our caregivers, patients and visitors. We believe the body cameras will help with that ongoing effort.

When a security officer is wearing this camera during their shift, who has access to recorded videos?  
Security officers can view their own recorded video for the limited purpose of completing an incident report. Security management can access and view all recorded videos when necessary and justified per policy.

Am I authorized to see the policy and procedures for body cameras? If so, where can I find this information?   
The body camera policy can be found on PolicyStat and can be viewed internally by caregivers.

Are security officers allowed to record casual conversations, while wearing body cameras?  
No. These cameras are to be used to capture recordable events; not used for casual conversation or otherwise. Even when on calls for service, officers can use a mute feature to stop audio recording when they are having private conversations.   
   
What is the process for obtaining a copy of the recorded video?   
Requests should be made to security leaders. They will be responsible for vetting requests through all appropriate departments to determine whether the release is justified and appropriate.