Geisinger Health System is set to enhance its safety protocols by implementing entrance screenings with metal detectors across its hospital network. This initiative, part of a year-long phased rollout, will begin on March 30 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. The mandatory screenings will apply to all patients, visitors, and staff entering public access points, including labor and delivery areas. Hospital officials emphasized that the move is a response to rising concerns regarding healthcare workplace violence, noting that existing metal detectors at emergency department entrances have already successfully intercepted thousands of weapons since 2021.
The new security procedures are modeled after screenings found at airports and courthouses, utilizing walkthrough metal detectors supplemented by handheld scanners when necessary. Geisinger maintains a strict policy prohibiting weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, regardless of licensure. Any prohibited items discovered during the screening process must be returned to the individual’s vehicle before they are permitted to enter the facility.
