Geisinger to Launch Security Screenings at All Hospitals, Starting March 30

Airport-style metal detectors are coming to every public entrance at Geisinger hospitals, with Geisinger Medical Center in Danville going first on March 30 as part of a phased systemwide rollout announced March 18.

Every person who walks through a public entrance, including patients, staff members, visitors, and those entering through labor and delivery, will pass through a walkthrough metal detector. If the detector activates, a security officer will follow up with a handheld scanner. Geisinger officials said the process will resemble screening at airports or courthouses.

Sean McGinley, Geisinger's associate vice president of Police and Security Operations, said the expansion builds on years of existing data. "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." Geisinger has operated metal detectors at all of its emergency room entrances since 2021, and officials say those ER screenings have stopped thousands of weapons and other dangerous items from entering facilities.

"Our hospitals are places of healing," McGinley said. "Security is a top priority. This is yet another investment we're making in keeping our hospitals safe."

McGinley noted that Geisinger is not an outlier in making this move. "For health systems, particularly of our size in Pennsylvania and nationally, it's more of the norm than the exception now," he said.

Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited from all Geisinger facilities. Any weapon discovered during entrance screening will not be allowed inside and must be returned to the person's vehicle. Officials advised anyone with an upcoming appointment to allow extra time before arrival to accommodate the screening process.

After Danville, the program will expand to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township, and Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, though specific dates for those locations have not yet been announced. The full rollout across all Geisinger hospitals is expected to be completed over the next year.

A Geisinger official described the broader security framework accompanying the screenings: "Our measures include reduced entry points, screening of all visitors and patients with handheld metal detectors, and ongoing monitoring by trained security personnel. These steps, combined with staff preparedness and rapid response protocols, ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for everyone who comes through our doors.