Home

  • Home
    • » e-Newsletters

Hospital tightens security after baby kidnapping

Healthcare Security Weekly, April 28, 2008

Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford has taken numerous steps to tighten security after a newborn was abducted from its maternity ward last month.

The hospital released a 10-page document April 21, detailing the changes it has made to increase security. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration cited the hospital for faulty security following the abduction and ordered the hospital to submit a correction plan, reported Central Florida News 13. An agency spokeswoman said the hospital could still be fined, the Tampa Tribune reported.

Anyone wanting to visit a newborn at the hospital must sign in, get a hospital photo badge, and have their bags inspected when they leave, reported the Associated Press. In March, security video captured a woman leaving the maternity ward with a duffel bag. Police about an hour later stopped the woman’s car and found the baby unharmed.

The hospital has also posted a uniformed security officer outside the maternity unit at all times, and a second officer makes rounds every two hours to manually check doors to make sure they are closed and appropriately locked. Visitors must sign in and out using a log maintained by security. The hospital also plans to conduct ‘code pink’ drills on a monthly basis for the next three months, followed by drills on a quarterly basis, according to the TV station.

Most Popular