• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Use a task force to upgrade security response

Healthcare Security Weekly, January 12, 2004

Make sure you include all relevant departments on a task force when your facility revamps its security services.

After the events of September 11, 2001, New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC, convened such a task force to improve its preparedness, said Barb Bisset, RN, MPH, director of emergency response, safety management, and special police.

Called the "Hardening of the Building" team, the task force consisted of staff members from the following departments:

• Information services-the department director and a security project coordinator

• Human resources-the employee-relations manager

• Special police-the police chief, deputy chief, and a supervising sergeant

• Facilities construction-electronic security project manager

• Other system campuses-site administrator for another hospital in the system

• Other departments-materials management director, distribution manager, plant operations director, and the infection control coordinator

The task force developed policies on access control to secured units, identification badges for contract workers and vendors, monitoring of visitors by the nursing staff, and specialized training for security forces.

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive