On the ground
Spokane · Healthcare and Hospital Security.
Patients and families in Spokane rely on Sacred Heart and Deaconess. Hospitals there never close, so the emergency entrance, visitor desk and garages need steady coverage on every shift.
Under Chapter 18.170 RCW, security companies must hold a private security company license from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). Every guard needs a DOL private security guard license: at least 8 hours of pre-assignment training and a passed DOL exam before working, post-assignment training after licensing, and 8 hours of refresher training every year. A temporary card allows unarmed work only. Armed guards need an armed endorsement, which requires a firearms certificate from the Criminal Justice Training Commission (an 8-hour firearms class plus qualification, renewed every year); a Concealed Pistol License does not replace it. Check licenses through DOL before service begins.
On post, every shift
Common duties for this kind of property. Your post orders decide exactly what officers do at your site.
Emergency entrance
Watching the busiest door and keeping it clear for ambulances.
Visitor desk
Checking in visitors and guiding them to the right floor.
Staff escorts
Walking nurses and staff to garages and bus stops at shift change.
De-escalation
Helping staff calm tense situations before they grow.
Garage patrols
Checking stairwells, levels and pay stations.
Restricted areas
Making sure only badged staff enter pharmacies and records rooms.
Picking the right level of coverage
Around-the-clock posts are standard for hospitals. Clinic coverage often runs only during open hours. Extra officers can be added for busy evenings and weekends.
Put these in your request
- Facility type and size
- Entrances that need a post
- Visiting hours
- Garages and parking areas
- Restricted rooms
- Your workplace violence policies
Planning a budget in Spokane
Your quote depends on the site, the hours and the duties. Use these starting rates to plan before proposals come in.
| Service | Starting at | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unarmed officer | From $25 an hour | Standing posts, access control, patrols |
| Armed officer | From $32 an hour | Guards with an armed license and firearms certification |
| Event security | From $30 an hour per officer | Often with a minimum of about 4 hours per officer |
| Personal protection | From $70 an hour | Protection agents from DOL-licensed companies |
| Fire watch | From $25 an hour | Patrols while fire systems are out of service |
| Mobile patrol | Priced per visit | Depends on visits per night and drive time |
Starting rates. Billing rates cover the officer’s pay plus payroll taxes, insurance, licensing, supervision and company overhead. Your price depends on your site, schedule and duties, and comes from the provider’s written proposal.
Planning hours
One post staffed around the clock needs about 730 officer hours a month. An 8-hour overnight shift every night is about 243 hours. Multiply hours by the hourly rates in each proposal to compare them fairly.
What changes the price
Armed or unarmed
Armed posts cost more because of licensing, training and insurance.
Hours and schedule
Overnight, weekend and holiday hours, and 24/7 coverage, raise the total. One 24/7 post needs about 730 officer hours a month.
Number of posts
Each additional post or patrol adds officer hours, and large sites may need a supervisor.
Contract length
Ongoing contracts are usually priced lower per hour than one-day or short-notice coverage.
Duties and risk
Specialized duties, high-value goods or busy public sites can raise the rate.
What’s included
Supervision, reporting software, vehicles and equipment may be included or billed separately.
Before you sign
Vetting a guard company.
A license, insurance and good supervision matter as much as the hourly rate. Check these with every provider you consider.
- LicenseDOL lookup · company licenseActive
- OfficersDOL guard license · annual refresherConfirmed
- InsuranceGeneral liability · Professional liabilityOn file
- References2 healthcare clients near Downtown and RiverfrontCalled
- SupervisionSupervisor visits every 3 hrs · overnight shiftsAgreed
- In writingProposal covers: entrances that need a post · visiting hoursSigned
- 1
Check the company license
Look up the company’s Washington DOL private security guard company license and match its legal name and status.
- 2
Check guard licenses
Ask for each guard’s DOL security guard license and training record (8 hours before work, 8 hours of refresher every year). For armed posts, confirm the armed endorsement and a current CJTC firearms certificate.
- 3
Ask for a certificate of insurance
Request proof of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and ask whether you can be named as an additional insured.
- 4
Ask for references
Talk to clients with similar properties, and ask how long they have used the company.
- 5
Ask about supervision
Find out who checks on officers, how often, and who you call at 2 a.m. when something goes wrong.
- 6
Get it in writing
Make sure the proposal covers post orders, staffing, rates for holidays and overtime, how absences are covered, reporting, and how to end the contract.
Ask for healthcare and hospital security proposals
Tell us about your site and when you need coverage. Guardix helps connect your request with security companies that can serve Spokane. Each company confirms its own availability, pricing and terms.
Questions about Healthcare and Hospital Security
Do hospital officers need special training?
Ask providers about de-escalation and healthcare-specific training on top of their state license.
Can officers help with patients?
Officers support staff with safety; clinical care stays with medical staff.
Do clinics need overnight officers?
Usually not, unless the clinic or its parking area is open late.
Can officers escort staff?
Yes, escorts at shift change are one of the most common duties.
How are incidents shared?
Officers should report to your security or nursing lead under your policies.
Can coverage cover several buildings?
Yes, with fixed posts and patrols between buildings.
Other services in Spokane
Next step
Ready to cover your Spokane hospital or clinic?
Send one short request. Guardix passes it to DOL-licensed security companies, and each one replies with a written proposal.
- RequestZIP, service, start date
- MatchedLicensed providers
- ProposalPrice and terms in writing
Guardix helps connect quote requests with potential security providers. The selected provider delivers the agreed security service. Availability, qualifications, pricing, reporting features, and service terms must be confirmed for the actual assignment.