Detection system makes ED safer

After months of research and evaluation, Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital installed a weapons detection system in its emergency department (ED). This new security system, Opengate by CEIA USA in Hudson, Ohio, is a safety measure appreciated by staff and patients alike.

The unobtrusive detection stanchions are staffed by a third-party company, allowing the hospital’s police and security teams to continue their current work. No physical renovations were required to install the system, and the units are mobile, allowing them to be repositioned as needed on any given day.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial, the flagship of the Carilion Clinic system, is a Level I trauma center with high traffic volumes, making the ED an ideal area to introduce weapons detection and visitor management systems.

“By and large, staff and the public understand the need for these enhanced safety measures and have voiced support and appreciation for the additional security,” says Carl Cline, vice president of Carilion Clinic police and security. “Staff appreciate the new system, and we’ve worked with them to incorporate it into our own routine workflows. For example, we can anticipate increased screenings around shift changes, and we adjust security staffing to meet increased demand.”

Installing the new system was just one step of the enhanced safety program. Demos of available equipment options began during the pandemic, and once the weapons detection system was chosen, the communication planning began.

Staff training is needed to become comfortable with the new system and to handle alerts. Training is conducted through collaboration between the hospital’s police/security teams and the weapons detection system vendor.

“A rollout like this requires working closely with staff and the public to minimize disruption,” Cline says. “Universal screenings, paired with education and clear protocols for both staff and the public, help us to safely monitor traffic in and out of the facility.”