By the end of 2026, all hospitals and emergency departments at Columbus-based OhioHealth will have metal detectors at their public entrances, a move that aligns with broader industry efforts to curb workplace violence in healthcare.
The health system will implement weapons screening at 26 care sites, according to a Dec. 18 news release shared with Becker's. The screening process will include metal detectors as well as purse and bag checks and is not expected to delay patient care.
The technology is part of OhioHealth's broader effort to ensure its facilities remain weapons-free amid rising violence in the healthcare industry. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The investment comes as employees at other systems push for additional safety measures. At Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, members of the Ohio Nurses Association recently called for an investigation into senior leadership following a security incident. New weapons-detection technology at all public hospital entrances is among recent and upcoming safety measures at the medical center, OSU Wexner said.
At Pittsburgh-based UPMC, a November attack on a patient care technician prompted healthcare workers across the state to urge hospital leaders to boost their workforce safety efforts, including the installation of metal detectors at all public entry points.
Hospitals nationwide continue to face rising incivility. Separate studies in 2024 showed nearly half of nurses reported increased violence in their units over the past year, and that emergency department nurses experienced verbal or physical violence on a daily basis.
"The safety of our patients, visitors, and associates is of utmost importance to us at OhioHealth," Vice President of Security and Protective Services Todd Wickerham said in the release. "While we have always prohibited weapons from entering our care sites, this is an active measure to make sure that's the case."
OhioHealth operates 16 hospitals, three joint-venture hospitals and more than 200 ambulatory sites.