Protecting Our Healers: A Tech-Driven Approach to Healthcare Provider Safety

John Demming, CPP, CHPA, is the Director of Safety & Security at Lakeland Regional Health, the 5th largest hospital in Florida and home to the 2nd busiest emergency department in the nation. He has over a decade of experience in the healthcare security and emergency management field. 

John earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Management from Johns Hopkins University. His undergraduate studies were in Public Safety and Security at Florida State University.

Mr. Demming serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety. He has authored published works featured in The Journal of Healthcare Protection Management and the American Nurse Journal. He holds the credentials of Certified Protection Professional by ASIS International and Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator by the IAHSS. 

Paul M. Sarnese is the owner of Secured & Prepared Consulting, LLC. He is a Certified Healthcare Protection Administrator and a Certified Associate Project Manager.

Paul is the Past President for the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety. He was also recognized as the 2022 Campus Safety-Healthcare Security Director of the Year. Paul participated as a Technical Advisor to the Joint Commission in developing the Workplace Violence Prevention Standards.

He has had leadership positions directing and managing safety, security, emergency management and operations in large health systems. Most recently, Paul was the Assistant Vice President of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness for large health system in New Jersey.

Paul has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Rowan University, a Master’s Degree in Safety Engineering from Warren University. and a Master’s in Administrative Science from Farleigh Dickinson University.

He has been published in Campus Safety Magazine, govCIO Outlook, Total Security Advisor, Annals of Emergency Medicine, Journal of Emergency Nursing, Security Management Magazine, Journal of Emergency Nursing, HcPro, Journal of Healthcare Protection Management, and Hospital Safety and Security Management.

In 2020, Paul was presented with the Russell L. Colling Literary Award from the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety for making a significant contribution to the healthcare security, safety, and/or risk management professions.