LEXINGTON, Ky.- University of Kentucky Healthcare has new security measures that are now in place to keep staff and patients safe, specifically focusing on the emergency rooms. 

What You Need To Know

  • UK Police are working to enhance security at all health care facilities

  • Previously, security included sworn police officers protecting the entrances

  • UK Police are researching and looking for new advancements

  • Good Sam and Chandler Hospital Emergency departments now have hand held metal detectors

 

“We're in the process of looking globally, across the enterprise. What kind of security enhancements can be done to make our visitors, our staff, as well as our patients feel more secure,” UK Police Chief, Joe Monroe said.

 

Monroe said the security changes are a result of always looking to improve. No specific incident lead to the changes.

For years, UK Police had security and police officers protecting those in the emergency department areas. As of this last week, Monroe says they’ve added new security measures to two of their emergency rooms, like handheld metal detectors. 

“So everybody coming into the facility through those emergency entrances will be screened for any type of weapon,” Monroe said.

Two emergency departments that received these new metal detectors are Good Sam and Chandler Hospital. Monroe says these devices are just the first step they are talking to enhance their security with the health care facilities. 

“Anytime you look at doing security enhancement it's going to be a continually evolving process because you have to look at what the needs and vulnerabilities are. And then put in your mitigation strategies and then measure the effectiveness of those strategies,” Monroe said.