This month, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) is debuting the first phase of its newly-expanded, 40,000-square-foot Emergency Department (ED). The new ED will help address the increasingly high demand for emergency services throughout the region, ultimately increasing the department to 95 beds capable of treating up to 140,000 patients annually.
The health and safety of staff, patients and visitors is a top priority for Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (LG Health). While construction of the LGH ED continued, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health conducted a comprehensive review of security features, including technology, training procedures, policies, and security staffing. Based on the results of the review, the health system added new security features and enhancements to promote a safe and secure environment to work and receive care.
“We know that coming to a hospital or medical appointment can already be stressful for patients and visitors,” said Keith Sadler, director, Security. “Add in the anxiety created by the pandemic and recent acts of violence seen in the news and we knew it was important to make security improvements a priority with the new renovation – especially in our Emergency Department, which is open 24/7.”
Enhanced security measures at the ED’s entry points will include screening all patients and visitors using a walk-through metal detector and a parcel or bag scanner. “Metal detection is widely used within health-care facilities and we embrace this added level of security for our health system,” continued Sadler.
Sadler added that providing medical care will always remain paramount and acknowledged that not everyone can walk through a metal detector. “In these instances, a security officer will use a handheld detector to screen incoming patients or visitors,” he said, adding that the health system has recruited additional employees to support these security efforts.
In addition to expanding security at its Lancaster City hospital and Emergency Department, LG Health is also improving safety and security efforts across the health system through a Workplace Violence committee.
The committee, comprised of leaders from across the organization, is focused on additional efforts and policy reform that can be implemented systemwide. Included in their efforts are the establishment of a “zero tolerance policy” regarding acts of violence from patients, visitors or employees, additional education opportunities for safety and emergency events and de-escalation training, and a system-wide emergency notification system called LiveProcess.
LiveProcess alerts employees to a safety issue or security threat through their preferred means of communication, such as text, email or phone call. Beginning fall 2022, the health system will expand the usage of LiveProcess to cover all LG Health facilities and their immediate surrounding area.
“Our collective hope is that these added security features will not only keep us safe but also calm the concerns and worries that we all have while navigating a society with so many unnecessary acts of violence,” said James Stuccio, Interim Chief Operating Officer. “We aim to keep our community not only the healthiest possible, but also the safest while they are with us.”