SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A healthcare system in our area continues to crack down on security and safety measurements following recent violent incidents.
Geisinger is starting a new private police officer program to make its hospitals safer.
A man who lives right across the street in this home believes law enforcement around here has been lacking.
Brian Koloski lives right across the street from Geisinger CMC in Scranton, where two violent attacks happened against health care employees recently.
“We use to have more police officers in the area back during the 80s and the 90s and 2000s,” said Koloski.
The recent rise in violence is changing that.
Geisinger is now working a private police program into its security services team.
In a statement to 28/22 News, it reads 10 officers were sworn in earlier this month totaling 13 that will begin patrolling Geisinger facilities in coming weeks.
“Bringing private police officers to Geisinger is the next step in meeting the security needs of our organization”- Sean McGinley, Geisinger’s Associate Vice President of Security Operations and a former Pennsylvania State Police Officer.
Coming off a 5 day strike amid new contract negotiations, Geisinger nurses are demanding more when it comes to security. One nurse we talked to thinks this is a good start.
“Geisinger’s hiring of a security force is a positive step in the right direction. However, as the recent tragic hospital shooting in York showed, we need to go much further,” stated Chrissy Minet, registered nurse, Geisinger
This program is said to act as an additional tool to state and local police throughout the health care system.
Geisinger says that this team of officers will have jurisdiction to approach situations differently compared to that of traditional security officers. They will be equipped with multiple tools including fire arms and non-lethal options.’
“This program has been thoughtfully planned over some time, and we know bringing this new team to Geisinger will benefit our staff, patients and visitors,” stated McGinley.
“With the recent stuff like the gang activities it may be necessary. It’s probably about time,” said Koloski.
Geisinger says members of this new team are required to have previous law enforcement experience, undergo extensive background checks and training and are approved by the courts.
Union Statement:
As registered nurses, the safety of our patients, family visitors and all Geisinger Wyoming Valley staff is our top priority. For many months now, union nurses have been strongly advocating for concrete changes to increase security in our hospital. Geisinger’s hiring of a security force is a positive step in the right direction. However, as the recent tragic hospital shooting in York showed, we need to go much further. In our negotiations, we have proposed a comprehensive set of improvements to safety protocols. We also know that safety is deeply connected to staffing levels and retention of experienced nurses. When we’re severely understaffed, it is very difficult to provide the level of care our patients deserve, let alone comfort grieving family members and connect them with mental health resources. With short staffing, wait times increase and can cause patients and family members to become frustrated and agitated. We have been making some progress on safety issues in our negotiations, and we look forward to working collaboratively with Geisinger in negotiations next week. Together, we can create urgently-needed solutions that ensure safety, quality patient care and good jobs for our local community.
Chrissy Minet, registered nurse in Interventional Radiology, 13 years of service
Geisinger Statement:
Continuing the health system’s commitment to providing safe and secure facilities for patients, visitors and staff, Geisinger is implementing a private police officer program into its Security Services team. Earlier this month, Geisinger swore in 10 officers, making a total of 13 who will begin patrolling Geisinger facilities in the weeks ahead.
The program will act as a supplementary tool to state and local police partners throughout the health system’s footprint. While Geisinger police officers will have responsibilities and powers in their jurisdiction on Geisinger properties, local and state police will still partner on most criminal matters.
The team will have the jurisdiction to approach situations in Geisinger facilities differently than traditional security officers. Police officers will be equipped with multiple tools available to this level of security, including firearms and non-lethal options. Members of this new team are approved by the courts and sworn in locally to hold their positions.
“Everyone deserves a safe and secure healing and working environment,” said Sean McGinley, Geisinger’s associate vice president of Security Operations and a former Pennsylvania State Police officer. “Trends across the healthcare industry show a rising incidence of violent events in healthcare settings and specifically toward healthcare workers over the past few years, something we all have been reminded of recently. Unfortunately, this is no different at Geisinger. Bringing private police officers to Geisinger is the next step in meeting the security needs of our organization.”
All candidates for Geisinger’s police program are required to have previous law enforcement experience and undergo extensive background checks and training, on par with or exceeding what is required for traditional law enforcement teams.
This is the latest investment the health system has made over the past five years in the safety and security of staff, patients and visitors. That includes the installation of metal detection equipment at hospital emergency rooms, adding hundreds of security cameras – many using Artificial Intelligence to automatically alert security to real-time dangers – specialized staff training and the system’s K-9 program.
“This program has been thoughtfully planned over some time, and we know bringing this new team to Geisinger will benefit our staff, patients and visitors,” said McGinley. “We’ve studied the trends and learned how our colleagues in healthcare and other industries across the state and country have implemented similar programs. Safety is our top priority for everyone, and this is yet another way we can strive to achieve that.”
Geisinger
