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Utah hospital to issue visitor badges

Hospital Safety Connection, January 13, 2005

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Intermountain Health Care (IHC) hospitals in Utah will soon issue special access badges to visitors, the Deseret Morning News reported. Hospital officials say that the badges will improve security and protect patient privacy.

Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George will be the first IHC facility to require the special access badges for visitors, the News reported. By mid-January, the medical center won't allow visitors past the hospital's lobby without the pass.

"I don't think people realize sometimes how noisy they can be while visiting the hospital," Bonnie McLeod, chief nursing officer, told the News. "This new procedure will certainly help protect the privacy and confidentiality of our patients."

Visitors will receive the badges after they stop at the hospital's south lobby entrance. They must wear the badge in order to receive access to the hallways and various hospital floors. The badge has a sensor that allows access to the different areas.

"If you don't have a badge, then you won't get past these doors," McLeod said.

The badge identifies the person wearing it as a visitor, but also is coded to only open certain doors.

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