PHOTO PROVIDED Geisinger Medical Center’s main campus in Danville is pictured.

DANVILLE — As part of an ongoing investment in patient and employee safety, Geisinger will roll out entrance security screenings at all of its hospitals over the next year.

The screening procedures will be rolled out in phases throughout the year, starting with Geisinger Medical Center on Monday, March 30.

“Our hospitals are places of healing,” said Sean McGinley, associate vice president of Police and Security Operations for Geisinger. “Security is a top priority. This is yet another investment we’re making in keeping our hospitals safe.”

Once implemented, every visitor, patient and staff member using a public entrance, including labor and delivery, will be screened.

Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited from all Geisinger facilities. People should not bring these items with them when entering a Geisinger hospital or clinic for an appointment or visit. Any weapon found through the entrance screening will not be allowed to enter the facility and must be returned to your vehicle.

Screenings will be similar to those at airports or courthouses, using metal detectors. If the detector is activated, the security officer will conduct a scan with a handheld detector.

Geisinger has used metal detectors at all emergency room entrances since 2021, preventing thousands of weapons and other dangerous items from entering its facilities.

“We’ve seen the benefits of these screenings,” McGinley said. “Violent events in healthcare are a growing concern everywhere. This is a natural evolution of our robust security measures.”

This is Geisinger’s latest investment in the safety and security of staff, patients and visitors. Other updates include introduction of a private police team in 2025, specialized staff training, a K-9 program and installation of hundreds of security cameras — many using AI to automatically alert security to real-time dangers.

The implementation of the entrance screenings at additional facilities will be announced at later dates. Patients should allow extra time for screenings before appointments.