Becklar Integrates Staff Safety Tech into Epic EHR Amid Rising Violence

OGDEN, UT – April 23, 2026 – In a significant move to protect frontline healthcare workers, connected safety firm Becklar has announced that its Workforce Safety Staff Duress solution is now designated in the Epic Toolbox on Showroom. The integration embeds a sophisticated panic button and location-tracking system directly into the nation's most widely used electronic health record (EHR) system, offering a streamlined way for hospitals to deploy advanced safety measures.

This development comes as healthcare institutions face a severe and escalating crisis of workplace violence. By embedding its technology within the Epic environment, Becklar aims to provide an immediate, discreet, and effective tool for nurses, doctors, and other staff to summon help without disrupting clinical workflows or escalating volatile situations.

“Healthcare professionals deserve to feel safe while delivering care,” said Spencer Moore, Sr. Vice President of Business Development for Becklar Workforce Safety, in the company's announcement. “Now that our Staff Duress solution is available on Epic Showroom, we’re removing barriers to adoption and embedding critical safety capabilities directly into the systems clinicians already rely on every day.”

A Direct Response to a Growing Crisis

The need for such integrated solutions is underscored by alarming statistics. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than employees in any other industry, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all nonfatal workplace injuries due to violence. A 2024 survey revealed that over 75% of nurses experienced at least one form of workplace violence within the past year, with verbal abuse and threats being the most common incidents.

The consequences extend far beyond physical harm. The constant threat of violence contributes significantly to psychological distress, burnout, and high turnover rates, exacerbating an already critical staffing shortage across the healthcare sector. This not only impacts the well-being of caregivers but also compromises the quality and safety of patient care. Many incidents go unreported, often due to a belief that reporting will not lead to meaningful change or for fear of retaliation.

In response, regulatory bodies and industry associations have intensified their focus on worker protection. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has long-standing guidelines for preventing violence, and legislative efforts like the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act seek to establish federal protections for healthcare staff, highlighting the national urgency of the issue.

Seamless Safety within Clinical Workflows

Becklar's solution is designed to address the practical realities of a busy clinical environment. A key barrier to adopting new safety technologies has often been the introduction of clunky, separate devices or applications that disrupt established routines. The new integration circumvents this by allowing staff to trigger a duress alert discreetly using devices they already carry, such as an iPhone or Apple Watch, or through a small, dedicated Bluetooth button.

When an alert is activated, the system instantly transmits a notification within the hospital's Epic applications. This alert includes the employee's identity and, crucially, their precise room-level location, whether they are on the main hospital campus, in an outpatient clinic, or even making an off-site visit. This contextual data is vital for enabling security teams and emergency responders to react with speed and accuracy.

The system is backed by Becklar's 24/7 professional monitoring centers, which can coordinate emergency response and follow customized escalation protocols defined by the healthcare organization. This combination of integrated software, familiar hardware, and professional oversight creates a comprehensive safety net that operates seamlessly within the background of daily clinical practice.

The Strategic Advantage of Integrated Protection

For hospital administrators and IT leaders, Becklar's status as the first Epic Toolbox designated staff duress solution is a critical distinction. The Epic Toolbox program serves as a curated marketplace of technologies that have been vetted by Epic for compatibility, security, and adherence to preferred integration standards. This designation signals to healthcare organizations that the solution is built to work reliably with their core EHR, drastically simplifying the often-complex processes of procurement, security review, and implementation.

While other real-time location system (RTLS) providers like CenTrak and Midmark have staff duress solutions listed as "Under Construction" within the Epic Toolbox, Becklar's first-to-market designation provides a significant advantage for institutions looking to act quickly. By choosing a pre-vetted solution, hospitals can accelerate their deployment of critical safety infrastructure.

Investing in such technology is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative. In a competitive labor market, creating a demonstrably safer work environment can be a powerful tool for recruitment and retention. By proactively addressing the sources of staff burnout and anxiety, healthcare systems can improve morale, reduce turnover-related costs, and mitigate potential liabilities associated with workplace incidents.

Empowering the Frontline with a Digital Safety Net

Beyond the operational and strategic benefits, the human impact of this technology is profound. Providing workers with an accessible and discreet method to call for help can foster a powerful sense of psychological safety. The knowledge that a 'digital safety net' is always available can empower employees, allowing them to focus on patient care with greater confidence and less fear.

The discreet nature of the activation is paramount. In a tense situation with a patient or visitor, an overt action like picking up a phone or shouting for help can escalate the conflict. A subtle tap on a watch or a press of a small button allows the staff member to summon assistance without drawing attention, potentially de-escalating the situation before it turns violent.

Given the sensitive nature of location and personnel data within a healthcare setting, data security is a primary concern. The integration leverages modern, secure standards like FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) APIs for data exchange. The Epic Toolbox designation itself implies that the solution has undergone rigorous review to ensure it meets stringent privacy and security protocols, including those required by HIPAA.

As healthcare systems continue to grapple with staffing shortages and the high cost of employee turnover, solutions that directly address worker well-being are becoming less of a luxury and more of a core operational necessity. The integration of advanced safety tools directly into the central nervous system of the hospital—the EHR—marks a pivotal evolution. It moves the concept of staff protection from a peripheral, bolt-on system to an intrinsic component of daily care delivery, promising a future where the safety of caregivers is as prioritized as the health of their patients.