Columbus Regional Hospital Protective Services Department was recently designated a Program of Distinction by the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS). CRH is one of 12 hospital security departments in the country to receive the designation in 2019 – and one of only two Programs of Distinction in the state of Indiana — to currently hold the designation.

The IAHSS sets the standard for safety and security in healthcare. In total, there are 50 organizations that have earned the distinction in the U.S. and Canada.

To earn the designation, 70 percent of the staff needed to earn basic program certification. 
Basic IAHSS certification ensures that protective services officers understand and can implement the important security and safety functions within your healthcare facility on a daily basis and when the unexpected occurs. The organization offers three levels of certification – basic, advanced and supervisorial. In order to receive the Program of Distinction designation, Columbus Regional Health Protective Services Manager, Tony Pope, also achieved a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator (CHPA) designation, which is the highest level of certification that a safety and security leader can achieve through the IAHSS.

About the IAHSS
The International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety is a non-profit association representing individuals involved in healthcare security and safety. Through its educational programs and certification activities, IAHSS advances excellence in healthcare security and safety worldwide.