Hospitals, Liability and AI: Athena Security Bets on Integrated Screening

Violence in healthcare facilities is on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies hospitals as having the highest rate of workplace violence, and the American Hospital Association estimates the annual cost of related incidents exceeds $18 billion. With California now requiring hospitals to install weapons detection systems by 2027, regulatory pressure is accelerating adoption.

Athena Security is positioning itself as a beneficiary of that trend. Co-founder and CTO Chris Ciabarra told Security Guys that customers see both operational and cultural benefits:

“As a healthcare staff, we know all too well the violence that happens in our place of work and we can all give a collective sigh of relief that Athena Security is always on, always looking out to keep us protected while we care for our beloved community,” said Agnes Therady, chief nursing officer for Franciscan Alliance, a recent client.

The company’s technology aims to go beyond detecting weapons. Athena says its systems automate compliance with DHS best practices, including daily testing requirements, reducing liability for operators. Its new AI-assisted X-ray product consolidates multiple screening feeds into one tablet, adds automatic secondary review via cloud AI and human analysts, and introduces safeguards like halting conveyors to prevent unsupervised radiation exposure.

Ciabarra sees the broader market shifting away from point solutions:

“The era of standalone security devices is ending. Companies no longer want a standalone system for weapons detection. They want an integrated platform that can leverage AI for predictive analytics, consolidate management, and automate responses.”

Looking ahead, Athena expects demand for connected, cloud-based models to grow as budgets tighten and staffing shortages persist. Education and adherence to best practices will also become differentiators, Ciabarra said, as organizations weigh speed against reliability.

If regulation in healthcare is a leading indicator, hospitals may soon be joined by schools, stadiums, and workplaces facing similar mandates. Athena’s bet is that integration, not just detection, will be the deciding factor in which systems survive that transition.

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