Phoebe enhances security to ensure patients’, visitors’ safety

ALBANY – Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital has installed new weapons detection systems on its main campus to enhance the safety of patients, visitors and employees, joining a growing trend among hospitals throughout the country by investing in this technology as a safety best practice.

“Safety is one of our core values and is part of The Phoebe Way, which is our pledge to make every life we touch better by putting safety first, offering superior service and providing exceptional care to everyone, every day,” Deb Angerami, Phoebe’s CEO, said in a news release. “This security enhancement is just one more way we are living up to that pledge and making sure we provide a safe environment for everyone who comes to our campus.”

The new security measure will be part of the normal check-in process and will have minimal impact on visitors. In fact, they may not even notice the system. The machines, from Evolv Technology, use the same frequency as electronic theft prevention devices widely used in retail stores. Visitors will not need to stop, empty their pockets or remove items from bags, and two people may walk through at the same time.

When the Evolv system detects a possible weapon, it captures an image of the individual and places a box around the location of the potential weapon. A security officer will immediately view the image and perform a secondary screening.

“Our security officers will not touch visitors or physically go through bags. A secondary screening may include wanding with a hand-held device or asking someone to open a bag so we can see inside,”  Phoebe Director of Security Raul Rosado said. “Visitors will not be allowed to enter with a weapon. We’ll ask them to store the weapon in their vehicle or a location off our premises, and they will need to be screened again when they return.”

No firearms, knives with a blade longer than three inches or other items that may be used as weapons are allowed inside Phoebe facilities. Implanted medical devices, wheelchairs and strollers should not set off the machines, and the system poses no danger to pregnant women or any other individuals.

“Our goal is to implement a proactive approach to ensure a safe environment and a positive experience for everyone who comes through our doors, and we look forward to implementing this new safety protocol,” Angerami said.

Use of the systems will be phased in over the next several weeks at the primary public entrances on Phoebe’s main campus. The hospital started using the system at its emergency center entrance on Wednesday and will then go live at the main entrance on April 10 and the medical towers entrance on April 17.

Special Photo: Phoebe