New director of security sets sights on enhanced hospital safety and zero tolerance for violence at Nova Scotia Health

Nova Scotia Health’s director of security, Dean Stienburg, has been in his new role for a short time, but he is already clear in his vision: a healthcare environment where safety is paramount, and security measures are cutting-edge.  

Dean began a policing career with Halifax Regional Police in 1989, taking on roles in patrol, community response, plainclothes work, and a significant tenure in the training section. His specialty in use of force and experience as a team lead sergeant on the emergency response team (commonly referred to as a SWAT team) gives him a deep understanding of security dynamics.  

His contributions to policing extend beyond Nova Scotia. He developed provincial training programs for firearms and Tasers, becoming the first master instructor in Canada trained in Taser deployment.  

As he transitions to his new role with Nova Scotia Health, Dean and his team are evaluating each site to tailor enhanced security measures based on facility size, traffic flow, and specific risks. 

“No two sites are the same, so we are carefully assessing each location,” Dean says. “We want each hospital to have customized security improvements that make sense.”  

Dean's goal for security at Nova Scotia Health includes ensuring better integration, so security personnel are seen as essential partners in patient care, particularly with high-risk patients and visitors. "Our security should be like the immune system of the body,” he says. “You don’t think about it, but it’s always there, all of the time, to keep you safe. That’s what we are aiming for with a security team that is integrated into the healthcare setting.”  

Dean also wants security officers to have a better understanding of clinical contexts to provide more timely and appropriate support. “Security doesn’t always need to wait for direction from a clinical team member,” he says. “They should feel empowered to respond quickly and know exactly what to do to help.”  

His approach to making Nova Scotia hospitals safer includes leveraging advanced technologies, like AI weapons scanning, staff communication devices (Vocera), and streamlined security processes with an overarching goal of ensuring a safer environment for both staff and patients.   

That work is well underway. The AI scanning pilot at Colchester East Hants Health Centre’s emergency department in Truro showed promising results over a two-week period. This technology, designed to differentiate between harmless items and potential threats, greatly reduced the need for secondary searches, from 80 to 50 per cent. During the pilot, 7,400 people passed through the AI system, with only one person expressing dissatisfaction (who subsequently complied by removing a prohibited item from their possession). Dean says strong positive feedback from the public highlights community support for enhanced security measures. 

Vocera, a staff communications tool, is being piloted at the QEII Health Sciences Centre’s emergency department and has received positive feedback. The system allows teams to quickly alert each other to any critical incidents, resulting in a faster response when help is needed. Dean anticipates further trials of the Vocera system at other sites will be prioritized based on where it can have the maximum impact on safety.  

Dean also hopes to see a culture shift, where violence in hospitals is no longer accepted or overlooked. He encourages staff to take a stand against unacceptable behaviour by reporting it immediately, which may include pressing criminal charges when necessary.  

“I want staff and physicians to understand they do not have to tolerate violence, and that security will support them,” Dean says, adding that he was surprised by the hesitancy of staff to pursue legal action. “Everyone should feel empowered to say no to violence.” 

Another surprise was the frequency of violent or aggressive incidents taking place across the province, which Dean is determined to change. “I wasn’t naïve about what goes on, but the extent of the serious incidents and near misses was well beyond what I anticipated,” he says. 

With more than 33 years of policing experience, Dean is bringing a transformative approach to healthcare security that promises to set new standards at Nova Scotia Health. 

"I’m already looking across the country at what other jurisdictions are doing to enhance safety in hospitals, but I want to replicate what they're doing plus a little bit more, because I want Nova Scotia Health to be the best." 

Photo: Dean Stienburg, director of security at Nova Scotia Health