Healthcare Security Is Moving Toward Proactive Detection Systems

Healthcare Facilities Today reports on weapon detection adoption, with input from HED’s healthcare planning expertise

Risk mitigation is shifting from response protocols to early identification

Hospitals are confronting a more visible and complex security landscape. Incidents that once felt episodic now inform everyday planning, prompting systems to reconsider how safety is embedded at points of entry without disrupting care delivery.

Noelia Bitar, AIA, ACHA, EDAC, LEED Green Associate, WELL AP, sector leader and healthcare planning expert from HED, contributes perspective on how weapon detection technologies are being integrated into facility design and operations. The commentary emphasizes balancing security with patient experience, noting the importance of visibility, workflow alignment, and minimizing friction in high-throughput environments.

In Healthcare Facilities Today, “Weapon Detection Systems Prevent Security Events” examines how healthcare organizations are deploying screening technologies to reduce risk. The article outlines implementation considerations, from staffing and training to spatial planning, situating these systems within a broader shift toward preventative security strategies.

 

Read the full article below, or view the original publication here: https://www.healthcarefacilitiestoday.com/posts/Weapon-Detection-Systems-Prevent-Security-Events–30395

 

Weapon Detection Systems Prevent Security Events

Hospitals are prioritizing security screenings amid rising workplace violence.

Earlier this year, a Pennsylvania hospital made headlines after a man held four staff members hostage at gunpoint, resulting in the death of a police officer and several others being injured. The motive for the crime remains unknown, raising a critical question: how was a firearm allowed into the facility in the first place?

While laws vary by state, people are permitted to carry concealed weapons in public across the country. According to the Giffords Law Center, 21 states require a permit to carry concealed weapons in public, while the remaining 29 allow individuals to carry in most public spaces without a permit, background check, or safety training.

Incidents on the Rise

Workplace violence within healthcare facilities has steadily increased in recent years. A study by Vivian found that healthcare workers are four times more likely to experience verbal or physical abuse compared to any other industry. More than 40 percent of respondents reported experiencing workplace violence in 2023, with 77 percent of incidents involving patients and 41 percent involving family members. The actual number may be higher, as many incidents go unreported.

“The topic of violence is becoming more of an issue, particularly in the United States,” says Noelia Bitar, healthcare sector leader at HED. “Emergency departments are one of the first areas that are prone to safety concerns because they are very public facing. It’s important to help people feel safe, whether it’s staff or patients.”

Design can support security efforts through decentralized stations that provide patient privacy while allowing staff to respond quickly.

“Often you can angle doors and access to rooms in corridors so that there’s no direct line of sight when someone is walking through, but still provide visibility into patient areas,” says Bitar. “Monitoring is important, but there are design elements we can introduce to help people feel less observed while maintaining a sense of calm.”

Healthcare organizations are responding in various ways. Some are expanding staff training and de-escalation strategies, while others are implementing policies that prohibit abuse and support broader violence prevention legislation.

“It’s hard for people to be screened, but one of the things healthcare facilities are doing is using technology similar to airports,” Bitar says. “They’re using facial recognition, and it has been successful. In many places, people can legally carry guns. Hospitals want to prevent that.”

In 2023, Duke University Health implemented a weapon detection system (WPS) across its hospitals. Visitors and patients walk through the system, which identifies firearms, knives, and other weapons.

“They are very similar to what you would go through at a sports event or concert,” says Mary Martin, chief operating officer at Duke University Health. “They are meant to be a quick walk-through scenario.”

Unlike event venues, hospitals cannot restrict bags. Patients often arrive with luggage, medications, and personal items. The system allows individuals to pass through without emptying pockets or opening bags, with secondary screening conducted only if needed.

“It got to a point where staff demanded it,” Martin says. “It’s not foolproof, but it’s a good first step and a clear signal that weapons are not allowed.”

Previously, metal detectors were limited to emergency departments. The broader rollout has helped address safety concerns across facilities.

While widely supported, some questioned whether staff should also be screened each shift. Martin notes that pandemic-era access controls made it more feasible to manage entry points and implement systems strategically.

“We evaluate this regularly,” she says. “We look at data and determine whether additional measures are necessary.”

Surveillance, Not Big Brother

Increased security can also introduce new tensions. Patients and visitors may encounter multiple checkpoints, including screening systems and badge requirements. While this may feel excessive, it reinforces accountability and access control.

“It’s a visual cue for staff to ensure everyone belongs,” Martin says. “It also requires education—don’t prop doors open or allow unauthorized entry.”

Expanded security has increased staffing needs. At Duke University Health, two guards are stationed at each screening location. Combined with equipment costs, this adds approximately $1.5 million annually. Still, the system has led to the confiscation of more than 1,000 firearms.

“Many of those were from people who forgot they had a gun in their bag,” Martin says. “It was a concerning realization.”

Hospitals are inherently high-stress environments, where emotional moments can escalate quickly. Additional security measures aim to reduce the likelihood of harm before it occurs.

“You don’t want access to something that could be used in a moment of anger,” Martin says. “Regardless of intent, it’s been a meaningful step toward safety.”

Mackenna Moralez is the associate editor for the facilities market.

 

Article republished from Healthcare Facilities Today.