05-03-2025
Geisinger implements new police program; bolsters security
Following a shooting in late February at a medical care facility in York that left two dead, including the gunman, and several medical professionals injured, one area hospital system is bolstering its security team with private police officers.
Geisinger recently swore in 10 new officers, bringing the total number to 13.
The officers will patrol Geisinger facilities, maintaining jurisdiction across the health system, and will supplement state and local police departments, who will help manage most criminal matters.
The officers' responsibilities differ from traditional security guards, in that they will carry firearms and nonlethal protection, and are approved by the courts and sworn into their positions locally. Additionally, candidates for the Geisinger police program need previous law enforcement experience, and must take part in background checks and training along the lines of what would be required for law enforcement officers.
'Everyone deserves a safe and secure healing and working environment,' said Sean McGinley, Geisinger's associate vice president of security operations and a former Pennsylvania State Police officer. 'Trends across the health care industry show a rising incidence of violent events in health care settings and specifically toward health care workers over the past few years, something we all have been reminded of recently. Unfortunately, this is no different at Geisinger. Bringing private police officers to Geisinger is the next step in meeting the security needs of our organization.'
In addition to this newest level of security at Geisinger, installation of metal detection equipment at hospital emergency rooms, hundreds of security cameras that use artificial intelligence to automatically alert security to real-time dangers, specialized staff training and a K-9 program round out safety protocols that have been implemented in the past five years.
'This program has been thoughtfully planned over some time, and we know bringing this new team to Geisinger will benefit our staff, patients and visitors,' said McGinley. 'We've studied the trends and learned how our colleagues in health care and other industries across the state and country have implemented similar programs. Safety is our top priority for everyone, and this is yet another way we can strive to achieve that.'
Per a news release, Geisinger intends to recruit additional officers for the program. On the company's career website, there are currently 12 job listings calling for 'Security Officer I' in Danville, CommunityCare Mount Pleasant, CommunityCare Kistler Clinic in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Bloomsburg and Hazle Twp., with one listing calling to fill a security supervisor role in Scranton.
The job summary states that the role includes the responsibility to maintain 'safety and security for an assigned area,' and maintain 'safety and security of patients, visitors, and employees.' It calls for officers to conduct 'routine patrols of assigned areas to keep property and persons free from risk,' and to respond to 'emergencies, fire alarms, hazardous material incidents,' and deal with 'conflict, confrontation and stressful situations on a routine basis.' Other duties include reporting and resolving problems, locking and unlocking doors, operating security technology equipment and directing traffic on hospital property. An educational requirement of GED or equivalent, with a minimum requirement of one year of experience in security, police or military, and a certification with the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety are required.
There is no listed salary range for the positions.
The program may offer some relief for beleaguered nurses.
Jennifer Graham Partyka, 52, notices troubling issues around security at the hospitals where she has worked as a nurse and nurse supervisor for the past 30 years, starting with the idea that security is 'always reactive.'
'There's nothing proactive going on in any of the hospitals where nurses work,' she said, adding that people who enter are not being screened at the door. 'There might be a sign there that says, 'no guns allowed,' but no one is protecting the staff indoors.'
While Partyka has forgotten the fine details, she recalled the broad strokes regarding the abuse she's experienced as a nurse over three decades.
'I've been beat up at work a whole bunch of times. … I've been punched and hit and cursed at and called fat. … It's happened my whole career for 30 years,' Partyka said. 'If you talk to nurses that have done it for a really long time, we have come to accept that it is a part of the job.'
While that may traditionally be some nurses' experience, Partyka said the younger generation of nurses coming in refuses to tolerate an unsafe work environment.
'The new nurses are saying, 'Hell no, we're not doing that,' and thanks to them we may see some changes in the job,' said Partyka, who sits on the board of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, adding that nurses are 'taught not to be confrontational.'
'You're taught to manage these scenarios as if you really can control them,' Partyka said. 'If I ever had a staff member that was harmed, I would never in a million years say, 'What could you have done differently?' That reinforces that it's the staff member's fault.'
Partyka's most recent role, a remote position, takes her out of a confrontational work environment.
'It's such a relief,' she said, adding that she works 'right alongside' her dog, Henry. 'He's the best co-worker I ever had; he's the best patient I ever had.'
While she believes working from home reduces or eliminates her exposure to a harmful work environment, she can't help but think about the people who need her.
'I feel a lot of survivor's guilt,' Partyka said, noting that she intends to start volunteering at a women's center near her. 'I know how to take really good care of patients.'
In the meantime, Partyka is basking in her peaceful work environment.
'After 30 years,' she said, 'maybe I owe this to myself.'
