Athena Security announces that Jefferson Regional of Southeast Arkansas is using its weapons detection system to bolster its holistic approach to proactively keeping healthcare workers and patients safe. A not-for-profit located on the Western ridge of the Arkansas Delta, Jefferson Regional is a 300-bed facility providing 11 counties with essential healthcare services for the last 100 years.
By adding Athena Security to enhance its safety profile, Jefferson Regional continues its strong history of leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to best serve employees, patients and visitors.
Author's quote
“Whether it's adding the daVinci surgical robot to improve patient care or the Athena Security weapons screening for added safety at both our main hospital entrance as well as the Emergency Department entrance at Jefferson Regional, we always try to do what is best for our community,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Jefferson Regional Medical Centre, Peter Austin.
He adds, “As we looked for an entryway security provider, we knew we needed to cover both entrances for comprehensive coverage. The provider needed to be responsive, have personable service and the ability to minimise risk at our facility. Athena was our number one choice.”
Athena Security’s entryway system
Athena Security’s entryway system is located at the facility’s two public entryways
Over the years Jefferson Regional has taken a proactive stance to securing its campus. Performing regular security assessments have led to holistic security changes like the addition of security cameras, increased patrols, additional security vehicles, panic alarms, tasers instead of pepper spray, and active shooter training, all backed by security staff with over 200 years of law enforcement expertise.
Athena Security’s unobtrusive entryway system is located at the facility’s two public entryways: the main entrance and at the emergency room entryway.
Athena Security’s reporting software
Athena Security’s incident reporting software was another great feature for Jefferson Regional to have the tools to easily document and analyse all incidents at the facility. With the national rate of violence against healthcare workers 12 times higher than in the overall workforce, 85% of emergency room doctors state that violence is increasing (Sherwood, Arkansas hospital shooting last September, 45 minutes from Jefferson Regional).
Incident reporting is a major upgrade to the existing manual system providing a data-driven, evidence-based approach to reducing risks within the medical centre.
New visitor management system
Athena Security’s new visitor management system, first released at Jefferson Regional, will help with workflow and the security of patients and visitors checking in. This addition helps automate the security of the entryways by identifying minors, persons of interest, speeding the check-in process, limiting visitors per room, and much more.