New Security at Hospital Emergency Department
By 250 News
Friday, April 08, 2011 09:16 AM
Outer doors at Emergency department at University Hospital of Northern B.C. remain unchanged, but inner doors will be locked.
Prince George, B.C.- As of Monday April 11th, there will be a new addition to access to the Emergency Department at the University Hospital of Northern B.C..
A special set of locked security doors has been added. So, the outer doors will be open 24/7, then the inner set of doors will be the security doors which will be locked.
The inner doors can be opened by one of three means1. Calling for the door to be open by accessing the intercom ( white button)
2. Swiping a special security card on the “swipe” mechanism
3. Hitting the emergency alarm ( yellow square button)
The addition of the inner security doors is not the result of any one specific incident says Jim Fitzpatrick, Manager of Critical Care Services “It is the result of ongoing issues, as the problems of Prince George on a late Friday or Saturday night, can, and often do, end up in the emergency department.”
Fitzpatrick says there have been cases of domestic violence, alcohol and drug related incidents, “We want to make sure the people coming in to Emergency need to be here.”
There is also the matter of staff using the Emergency department as a short cut to other departments in the hospital. Fitzpatrick says there are specific doors for staff and physicians and they will have to use them.
Northern Health Communications Officer Eryn Collins says there reduced traffic past the triage desk will also increase patient privacy as people share information with the triage nurse.
With a security office accessible from the vestibule and monitor cameras, Fitzpatrick is comfortable the new system will not leave anyone who is need of care “locked out” of accessing the Staff and care in the Emergency department.
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Posted by: billposer on April 8 2011 10:23 AM