Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is installing weapons detection screening devices at the hospital’s key entrances.
Beginning April 18, all Monroe Carell employees, patients, families, learners, and visitors will pass through the detection screening technology at all three hospital entrances — the first-floor main entrance, the second-floor entrance from the South Garage, and the Emergency Department (ED), which has an existing metal detector. Additionally, the second floor will serve as the after-hours entrance (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) for the hospital.
The weapons detection installations at Monroe Carell are part of a phased plan to add to current comprehensive policies, procedures and other actions that work to create and maintain a safe hospital and clinic environment for all patients, families, learners, visitors and employees. To complement the screening technology, Monroe Carell is planning to add a visitor management system to keep track of all visitors at the hospital and clinics.
“I am so pleased that Monroe Carell will be the start of enhanced safety measures for all of VUMC. Ensuring we have a safe environment for our staff to provide care and for our patients and families to receive care is a top priority for me and other leaders across the system,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell. “In addition to the weapon detection, we will be implementing a visitor management system later this year. This is a best practice in children’s hospitals. We will learn together as we implement each of these technologies.”
Beyond the existing metal detectors at the pediatric and adult EDs, Monroe Carell will be the first site on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) 21st Avenue and Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks campuses to fully employ the weapons detection systems, which were piloted across several sites in 2023.
“No one single tactic will garner 100% safety of our physical environments. In coordination with Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) and our other security initiatives (including but not limited to perimeter door monitoring, new identification badging and brass key processes) VUMC’s weapons detection program is just another piece of our safety strategy,” said Chad Fitzgerald, JD, Executive Vice President of Shared Clinical Services Division of VUMC.
The Monroe Carell weapons detection systems at the main and the second-floor entrances will use technology from OpenGate and Evolv, respectively. Both systems, similar to what is present at many sports arenas, are designed to screen large crowds quickly, allowing people to pass through while carrying bags, luggage and backpacks and without emptying their pockets. Each device/entrance will be staffed by VUPD, which already has a 24/7, licensed officer presence across the VUMC and Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks campuses, including an office in the Monroe Carell ED.
VUPD, working in collaboration with teams across the Medical Center, has played a crucial role in implementing and selecting a weapons detection system, said Charles DeFrance, director of VUPD for the Medical Center.
“These systems help to prevent unauthorized individuals from bringing weapons or dangerous objects into the hospital, reducing the risk of violence, and ensuring the safety of patients, staff and visitors. By screening individuals for weapons, hospitals can create a secure environment and minimize potential harm and dangerous incidents,” DeFrance said.
Current VUMC policy prohibits firearms on campus. Anyone found to have a weapon during screening will be asked to remove the weapon from the premises before being allowed to enter the building.
What to expect at each hospital entrance:
Emergency Department Entrance – Only patients, families and employees accessing the ED will be allowed to use this entrance. All persons entering the ED must remove all metal objects from pockets and bags before going through the detector (no change from current process).
- First-Floor Main Entrance – All entrants will pass through the OpenGate weapons detector. Two people can pass through at a time. This system does not require people to empty pockets or remove bags. Strollers, car seats, wheelchairs and other assistive devices can pass through. Patients and families will receive a visitor sticker from a guest services representative. Employees’ ID badges should be visible at all times.
- Second-Floor Entrance – All entrants will pass through the Evolv weapons detector in the vestibule of the second floor. Two people can pass through at a time. Strollers, car seats, wheelchairs and other assistive devices can pass through. The second floor will also serve as the after-hours entrance from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Patients and families will continue to the information desk to receive a visitor’s sticker, while employees will continue to use the employee screening entrance to the left of the vestibule. Employees’ ID badges should be visible at all times.