Geisinger plans to ramp up security measures, starting later this month, by implementing metal detectors at the entrances to each of its hospitals.
As part of an ongoing investment in patient and employee safety, the screening procedures will be rolled out in phases throughout the year, starting with Geisinger Medical Center in Danville on March 30, officials said.
The implementation of the entrance screenings at additional facilities, such as Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Twp. and Geisigner South Wilkes-Barre, will be announced at later dates. Patients should allow extra time for screenings before appointments, officials noted.
“Our hospitals are places of healing,” said Sean McGinley, associate vice president of police and security operations for Geisinger. “Security is a top priority.”
Once the detectors are implemented, every visitor, patient and staff member using a public entrance, including labor and delivery, will be screened, Geisinger officials said.
Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited from all Geisinger facilities. Any weapon discovered through the screenings must be returned to the individual’s vehicle, officials said.
The screenings will be similar to those at airports or courthouses, using metal detectors, officials said. 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, officials said.
“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.”
Previous security measures introduced by Geisinger include adding 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, officials said.