PPMC Creates a Culture of Security, Prevention, and Accountability

Safety is the foundation of all of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s patient experience and staff engagement efforts. Without a safe, secure, and welcoming environment, PPMC could not be provide excellent patient care, maintain a motivated workforce, or be a driver of innovation in the community or health care industry.  When talking about developing a “culture of safety,” the focus is often on how to prevent adverse medical events, minimize the risk of errors, and improve the quality of patient outcomes, but safety matters in more areas than clinical care alone.

Because hospitals can pose hazards for patients, visitors, and staff members alike, PPMC is committed to adapting our security strategies to meet changing standards and to providing employees with the tools to prevent and appropriately respond to crises. Just as PPMC strives to have a fair and just culture in which reporting medical errors or near misses doesn’t result in shame and blame, it’s critical to report any situations that compromise hospital safety, ranging from something seemingly innocuous like a visitor not being asked to show identification, to something extreme like a staff member being physically threatened.

A number of enhancements have recently been made to PPMC’s existing security protocols to ensure employees, patients, and their families are safe from the moment they arrive on campus through their continuum of care.

The hours for the Wright-Saunders lobby have been extended until 9:00 p.m., and the entrance will be staffed by a security officer from 5:00 p.m. on to better oversee its frequent use. At the Cupp and Powelton entrances, visitors will now be screened before entry between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and patient floors will receive a request for authorization before guests are allowed to leave the lobby. Over the next few months, nighttime access will gain further oversight; visitors will only be able to use the three main entrances, all of which will be staffed by a security officer. Hospital leaders will also continue to review policies related to restricted access and visitor identification systems.

There have also been opportunities to introduce new features to PPMC’s security. A new daytime security officer was recently brought on board to monitor outside areas around Myrin Circle and the parking garage. In addition to overseeing outdoor safety, they will also ensure efficient traffic flow, provide directions to patients and visitors, and improve the ease of access for discharging patients. Approval has also been officially obtained to incorporate lockdown technology on all remaining floors in the Cupp Building. This tech is currently in place in PAC and on Cupp 4 East and South, and the Security Command Center and nursing stations can enable it.

If you have noticed additional areas for improvement, share your thoughts with PPMC’s Security Committee. Help protect our hospital community by emailing your suggestions to gary.ginsberg@uphs.upenn.edu. PPMC is also organizing a new security task force comprised of staff from departments across the hospital who will review policies and procedures to enhance campus safety and security. The task force will begin their work later this month, so stay tuned!

“Our security team does a wonderful job of preventing and responding to incidents, but it’s important to remember that every staff member plays an integral role in creating a secure, healthy environment,” said Gary K. Ginsberg, assistant executive director of Facilities. “It’s the same as the ‘see something, say something’ campaign. Stay aware of your surroundings, be mindful and deliberate when making decisions, and don’t wait for a colleague to address or report an incident first. All of us are responsible for making PPMC a safe place.”