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Paul La Vigne | |
As hospitals across the nation brace for the potential elimination of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), many healthcare leaders are concerned about how they will fund critical security infrastructure upgrades. The HPP has been a cornerstone of hospital emergency preparedness since 2002, helping modern healthcare facilities respond to mass casualty events, infectious disease outbreaks, and threats of workplace violence.
However, there are still a number of other options for funding hospital physical security upgrades like bulletproof doors, transaction windows, and ballistic barriers for reception areas.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most common hospital security upgrades and what options hospital leaders have for funding them, depending on the type of facility and where they’re located.
What Hospital Security Upgrades May Be Covered?
Grant-funded security upgrades often include a wide range of physical and electronic enhancements.
Here are some of the most common solutions for hospitals:
Guard Booths and Secure Entry Points
Guard booths and secure entryways serve as the first line of defense by screening vehicles and visitors before they enter hospital grounds. These structures can include bullet-resistant windows to protect security personnel, access control systems, and communication equipment.
Bulletproof Reception Areas
Reception staff are frequent targets of aggression. Bulletproof reception areas with transaction windows protect frontline staff while maintaining full visibility and voice transmission for a positive patient experience from the first interaction.
Our team can design these custom solutions to fit the existing design of hospital lobbies.
Bullet-Resistant Doors and Framing
Bulletproof doors tested to UL 752 standards for bullet-resistance and doors tested to standards for forced entry, including ASTM 3561-22, are an important part of securing main entry points and delaying an active shooter from entering. They come in a variety of materials, including glass, steel, and acrylic.
Ballistic Window Systems
Windows are another vulnerable entry point for bullets or break-ins. Many hospitals and healthcare systems choose to install bullet-resistant windows with different materials depending on their location and the level of protection needed.
Many exterior windows use glass-clad polycarbonate, which can be manufactured with varying degrees of thickness and can be tested up to UL 752 Level 8. Level 3 is common for many hospitals and healthcare facilities as it can stop three shots from a handgun.
Custom Vestibule Design and Mantraps
Secure vestibules or mantraps help control the flow of patients and visitors while deterring unauthorized entry. They can be incorporated into new construction or retrofits.
What Are Alternatives to the Hospital Preparedness Program?
For Nonprofit Hospitals
Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
For hospitals with a nonprofit status, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program is the most direct replacement for the HPP. This federal grant program had more than $274 million available in 2025 and provides support for physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations at a high risk of terrorist attacks, active shooter events, or other threats.
An individual site can request up to $200,000, and a single nonprofit can apply for funding for up to three sites, according to the most recent guidelines.
USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program Nonprofit
Hospitals in rural areas with fewer than 20,000 people can apply for low-interest loans and grants to buy, build, or update “essential community facilities,” including hospitals and medical or dental clinics.
Updates could include adding physical security upgrades, such as guard shacks, access control points, or reception areas.
Small communities with a population of 5,500 or fewer and low-income communities with a median household income below 80% of the state nonmetropolitan median household income receive priority for this funding, according to USDA guidelines.
For Public/Government Hospitals
FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)
The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) are other potential options for state hospitals looking to make security upgrades that support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s broader goals, which include enhancing protection at “soft targets” and fighting terrorism.
Each state also has specific priorities and looks for projects that align with them.
Eligible organizations must work with their State Administrative Agency who submits the applications for these grants and collaborates with other agencies where applicable.
HUD Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Public hospitals serving low- to moderate-income communities may qualify for community development block grants, which may cover upgrades such as security infrastructure at entrances, lighting improvements, and updates to lobbies to help manage access control.
For All Hospitals
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds upgrades related to natural disasters. If you can justify security features as storm hardening, they may be eligible. For instance, safe rooms are considered eligible projects in areas prone to severe weather, but safe rooms also offer protection from active shooters.
EDA Public Works / Economic Adjustment Assistance
While not focused on security, Economic Development Administration funding opportunities can support hospital expansions that incorporate security upgrades, especially in economically distressed areas.
How Total Security Solutions Helps Hospitals Manage Physical Security Upgrades
At Total Security Solutions, we’ve worked with hundreds of healthcare facilities to design, engineer, and install security upgrades tailored to their needs and budget.
If you’re applying for a grant, we can work with your architect and design team to specify materials, provide detailed cost estimates and system drawings, and other documentation to strengthen your application.
Once you receive funding, our team will help you finalize a budget, plan and design your project, and manufacture and install it.
Our systems are designed to balance safety and aesthetics, ensuring healthcare workers, patients, and visitors feel protected, not imprisoned.
The security needs of hospitals are changing, and hospitals need to respond accordingly even if traditional avenues for funding change.
If your healthcare facility is exploring options, consider these funding alternatives and evaluate your facility’s risks. Then, schedule a consultation with our experts for help planning your next security upgrade.
