MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Visitors to two Eastern Panhandle hospitals will soon have to check in and wear a badge while they are on the hospital campus.WVU Hospitals East made the announcement this week.
Berkeley Medical and Jefferson Medical Centers will implement the new visitor badging system starting Monday.
A press release from WVU Hospitals East explains the process:
All visitors age 18 and older will be required to check in and wear a visible badge while on campus.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening safety, security, and emergency preparedness at both hospitals and aligns with national best practices for protecting patients, visitors, and care teams, according to the press release..
“Safety is the foundation of healing, and it is our responsibility to protect everyone who steps onto our campuses,” said Mark O’Hern, regional president WVU Medicine East Hospitals, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Berkeley Medical Center. “A reliable visitor badging system ensures we know who is in the building, why they are here, and how to locate them quickly in an emergency. This reinforces our commitment to providing a secure, welcoming environment for our patients, families, and staff.”
How the system works
Upon arrival at both hospitals, visitors will:
–Present a photo ID for registration
–Receive a temporary badge displaying their photo, name, and destination
–Wear the badge visibly for the duration of their visit
Badges are valid for one day. Visitors will re-register each day they visit. The registration process takes approximately three minutes. Children accompanying an adult visitor will also receive a badge linked to the adult’s registration.
The hospital system says the new approach will help strengthen emergency readiness “by ensuring the hospital has accurate, real-time awareness of who is inside the facility at any given moment. This visibility allows teams to locate and account for individuals quickly during fire alarms, evacuations, lockdowns, or other urgent situations. It also helps security personnel identify anyone who is not authorized to be in restricted areas and supports a safer, more predictable flow of visitors throughout the building.”
“These enhancements come at a time when hospitals nationwide are confronting rising incidents of aggression and violence toward healthcare workers, making clear, consistent access management an essential component of preventing harm and improving the speed and coordination of emergency response,” according to the announcement.
Nicole Dollison, CEO of Jefferson Medical Center, said JMC has had a low rate of security concerns and issues, but adds “A high level of preparation will ensure continued safety and help insulate the hospital from national trends of increased violence.”
“As incidents of violence in hospitals increase across the country, we are strengthening every layer of our safety practices,” Dollison said. “Visitor badging isn’t just a security measure, it’s an essential tool that supports faster, more organized emergency response and ensures a safer experience for everyone.”
Ben Repine, Director of Security, emphasized the badging system’s role in day-to-day operations.
“The new system ensures we know who is on campus at all times,” Repine said. “It works hand-in-hand with our other safety measures, including regular security rounding inside and outside the buildings. This gives our team more visibility, more control, and more ways to respond quickly if something doesn’t look right.”
Staff will be available at the main entrances to assist visitors with the new process and answer any questions.
For more information about hospital visitation, please visit our Visitors Information and Guidelines pages: Jefferson Medical Center or Berkeley Medical Center.