Abstract

Medical facilities are distinctive types of premises accessible by a wide range of visitors seven days a week. They are places characterized by a high concentration of civilians and low-level security against the occurrence of various types of emergencies. Undoubtedly, terrorism is one of them. From a security point of view, hospitals are soft terrorist targets. Given the topicality of terrorism, we must address the question whether sufficient security is ensured for medical facilities. The aim of this paper is to point out the key role of security management in the overall management of hospitals. It will also outline some shortcomings in technical and operational security applications for their premises. The paper further discusses the effectiveness of crisis plans and emergency management exercises, as those are the primary conditions of successful emergency management.