Winter brings a wave of seasonal challenges to hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Due to higher emergency room traffic and increased fall risks, colder months can stretch both physical resources and clinical staff.
While most hospitals already have some form of emergency planning in place, evolving threats, especially those related to patient safety, demand smarter, more proactive tools.
Seasonal surges are predictable. So why do they still cause disruption?
Every winter, hospitals see more patients due to flu outbreaks, respiratory infections, slip-and-fall injuries, and weather-related accidents.
But the problem isn’t just patient volume. Staffing issues, overcrowding, and communication breakdowns also rise in the colder months, making it harder to manage risk inside the building.
According to the CDC, there were approximately 155.4 million emergency department visits in the U.S. in 2022. Of those, 40.6% of patients were seen in under 15 minutes, while 11.5% resulted in hospital admission, and 3.1 million were admitted to critical care units.
With the cold and flu season pushing more patients into already overcrowded emergency rooms, hospitals face mounting pressure to treat incoming cases quickly and efficiently.
When traditional safety protocols fall short
Manual sign-in sheets, audible alarms, and staff observation may be part of your safety strategy, but those systems often fail when the facility is busy, loud, or short-staffed.
During winter, distractions multiply. All it takes is one unsecured exit, one distracted shift, one missing check-in for a patient to go unnoticed.
Luckily, real-time awareness tools can help reduce that risk.
Secure Care’s Location-Based Data Solutions (LBDS) use Bluetooth and smart zoning technology to alert staff instantly when a patient, visitor, or unauthorized person approaches a restricted area.
The system adapts to your floor plan and patient population, making it a reliable tool during the busiest seasons.
Explore our DoorGUARDIAN® wander management solution used in hospitals nationwide →
Hospitals are adapting their safety strategies for modern challenges
It’s not just about winter preparedness. Many hospitals are now evaluating their broader approach to safety technology.
Can their system provide room-level accuracy? Can alerts be routed directly to nearby staff members? Can it track staff movement or detect when someone remains in a hazardous area too long?
According to a study, hospitals that implemented strategies to improve patient flow were able to reduce average patient wait times in the emergency department by 36% and increase discharge before noon by 16% source.
These operational improvements not only improve efficiency, but help reduce overcrowding and enhance response to safety events.
Hospitals across the country are deploying it not just for patient safety, but also for staff workflow visibility and emergency response coordination.
Learn how we support hospitals across the country →
Why proactive alerting matters more than ever
Fall and winter weather can disrupt even the best laid plans. But with advanced alerting, your team doesn’t have to be everywhere at once.
Smart sensors can trigger alerts before a potential event turns into a real emergency, giving staff the few extra seconds they need to act.
Response times are closely tied to staffing challenges, a growing concern during the winter surge.
Pairing that insight with Bluetooth-based alerting creates a system that supports staff when it matters most.
Technology is only as strong as your team
Emergency preparedness is never just about tools. It’s about giving staff the clarity and confidence to respond.
Hospitals that invest in modern alerting systems reduce risk and give time back to their team.
And that makes all the difference when every second counts.
Learn about the benefits of becoming a Secure Care reseller partner →
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About Secure Care Products
For the past 45 years, Secure Care Products, A Subsidiary of Valstone Systems Corporation USA, Inc, has been committed to providing improved safety and locating solutions through best-in-class service and innovative design for your most valuable assets. As the first company in the world to design and manufacture electronic monitoring equipment for wander-prone residents, we empower long-term care and healthcare facilities around the world. Using state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technologies, we keep people and things protected. Let us know how we can help you by calling 1.800.451.7917 or sending us a message.
