By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

Two Wisconsin healthcare facilities recently received calls threatening violence, prompting the organizations’ officials and local law enforcement to respond to the threats, which turned out to be false. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton and Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay received calls claiming an armed individual was on site, according to WTMJ. In Appleton, officers from multiple agencies responded and secured the area, but no weapon or suspect was found. Green Bay police faced a similar situation at Aurora BayCare, where a precautionary lockdown was put in place. Law enforcement has confirmed there were no credible threats to public safety. 

Even in situations where threats do not result in violence, healthcare managers must still secure their premises and ensure no danger to occupants exists.  

Related: Workplace Safety and the Role of Access Control

Access control systems can aid managers by restricting access to certain areas of a facility or an entire facility. By limiting access to authorized personnel, these systems make sure threatening individuals cannot access areas where they could cause trouble, Kyle Pfeiffer, industry solutions leader for healthcare at SALTO Systems, told Healthcare Facilities Today. 

“Modern electronic access control systems can significantly mitigate the risk of violence in healthcare facilities by creating secure environments through managed and restricted access,” Pfeiffer says.  

Automatic doors can be equipped with access controls and can also help secure healthcare facilities. They offer the flexibility to establish controlled access points across a facility, ensuring that only authorized persons can enter certain areas, according to Ashley Estrada, product manager at Horton Automatics. 

Ultimately, equipping key points of entry or egress with access controls is crucial to securing a healthcare facility from potential violence. 

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor for the facilities market.