Hennepin Healthcare
Hennepin Healthcare (HHC) is a nationally recognized public healthcare system anchored by a nearly 500 bed acute care, teaching, research, and Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center located in downtown Minneapolis. The system also includes three primary care clinics and 26 specialty care clinics distributed throughout the greater Minneapolis metropolitan area. As a high-volume urban healthcare provider serving diverse patient populations, HHC required a comprehensive and defensible security strategy that balanced safety, accessibility, patient experience, and operational efficiency across a complex and geographically dispersed portfolio.
Our Approach
SRMC was initially retained to conduct a systemwide healthcare security programming assessment and develop a practical, phased security master plan aligned with HHC’s mission, culture, and operational realities. The engagement included a detailed evaluation of HHC’s existing security program, staffing model, and operational logistics, as well as an assessment of facility design, circulation patterns, and the effectiveness of existing access control and video surveillance technologies. SRMC identified and defined appropriate safety zones and tiered access levels across patient, public, and staff areas, and developed a badge access clearance strategy supported by policy and operational guidance.
In parallel, SRMC evaluated security office locations, substations, and officer posts, recommending improvements to support visibility, response, and operational efficiency. The team developed security design and equipment standards for use by architectural and landscape design firms, reviewed facilities projects already in design to ensure alignment with future security objectives, and produced annotated floor plans illustrating recommended safety zones, tiered barriers, technology placement, security team hubs, and architectural enhancements. The final master plan included a prioritized, phased implementation roadmap with “do-it-now” recommendations and high-level budget estimates to support leadership decision-making and capital planning.
Results
The initial engagement resulted in a clear, actionable security master plan that provided Hennepin Healthcare leadership with a defensible path forward for strengthening safety, standardizing security practices, and aligning security design with clinical and operational workflows. Based on the value and practicality of the recommendations, SRMC was subsequently retained for the implementation-focused consulting services, working directly alongside the HHC Security team to advance priority initiatives. This work included support for access control management, redesign of the Security Operations Center (SOC), implementation of recommended security technologies, and expansion of training capabilities to enhance readiness and effectiveness across the organization.
SRMC also supported Hennepin Healthcare with a Five Points of Entry Analysis, an initiative focused on defining public access points to the hospital, identifying appropriate technologies such as access control and weapons detection, establishing staffing models that balance security effectiveness with a welcoming patient experience, and developing the operational plans, policies, and procedures necessary to sustain this program long-term.
Conclusion
SRMC’s ongoing partnership with Hennepin Healthcare demonstrates the value of a holistic, program driven approach to healthcare security that integrates people, processes, technology, and design. By remaining engaged beyond the initial assessment and supporting implementation, SRMC has helped HHC translate strategy into action, strengthen its security posture, and create safer, more controlled, and more welcoming environments for patients, visitors, and staff.
