Camden Clark Medical Center providing own security personnel
PARKERSBURG WV Jan 29 2018 — The Camden Clark Medical Center is employing its own security personnel at the facility after years of working with contract service providers.
A staff of 28 security officers has been in place since Jan. 14, said Christopher R. Miller, facility safety and security manager.
“Camden Clark is always looking for opportunities to better the experience for our patients and their visitors,” Miller said.
“This is just another way for us to do that. It is an opportunity to continue to make sure that anyone who comes here for treatment or to visit or to work comes to a place that is safe and secure.”
The lead officer is a decorated former police officer and there are six shift supervisors who oversee the day and night shift. All of those are included in the 28-member team. The officers patrol the hospital grounds and handle other duties.
“It is 24/7 coverage,” Miller said.
The lead officer, shift supervisors and the Emergency Room lobby officers are all carrying M26 Tasers, handcuffs and Jel OC Spray. All of the officers are equipped with body cameras, the Jel OC Spray, handcuffs, level-two body armor vests and a private-channel radio.
The security personnel are in-house employees of the hospital.
The shift supervisors were required to have 3-5 years’ experience in the security field. The lead officer has to have several years of law-enforcement experience. The other officers were provided with training to become certified and proficient to use the Tasers, certified in hand-to-hand defensive tactics to be able to use the handcuffs, be certified in the use of the mace and were taken through a course in how to interact with people who come to the hospital with ill intentions, de-escalate those situations verbally in a non-confrontational or combative way.
Security concerns at health care facilities have grown nationwide with a variety of people coming and going. Health care facilities are frequently visited by people with mental health issues, drug issues and other concerns.
“It only made sense to improve our staff to make sure if any of those situations arise then we have capable staff who can be called to the scene and handle those situations,” Miller said.
Facilities within WVU Medicine, including Camden Clark, Ruby and UHC, now have their own in-house security personnel rather than contract security providers.
“Hospitals and facilities are learning that you can be more efficient with in-house security staff rather than through a contract security agency,” Miller said. “Anytime you have a contractor, you have a gap in communication. When they are your employees directly you have much more control day-to-day to make them fit whatever piece they need to fit into.”
If Miller needs an officer to change something they are doing to fit the facility, it is easier to do now rather than if they have to go through a third-party, he said.
Miller was hired over a year ago to replace Tom Joyce, who was elected mayor of Parkersburg.
During his interview process, Miller said the idea of an in-house security force was discussed.
When he was hired, Miller had to evaluate the hospital’s security that was in place and determine what would be the most effective route to go.
“It made more sense and is a more efficient way to go with in-house staff,” Miller said.
The coverage is similar to what they had with the contractor. They have seven officers per shift.
Whereas the contractor had a regular staff of 23, they had more people to pull from at the corporate level if someone had to have time off.
Miller said they will be closely working with local police agencies.
A person may come in who is combative and the security personnel have to detain them and eventually put them in handcuffs, Miller said. “Before any of that interaction would start, the Parkersburg Police Department would have already been called.
“We are not in lieu of the police department in any way shape or form. If we can keep a situation subdued until the police department arrives, then the ideal situation would be my people would not put hands on anybody. We are handling the situation until the police department arrives as normal.”
The hospital’s security people are trained and have the tools for those situations when the combative person does not want to wait for the police to arrive and decides to do something early.
“At that point we would step in and neutralize the situation as soon as the police arrive on scene, it is their person and we step back,” Miller said.
The security personnel will not be used to restrain unruly patients, Miller said.
“The handcuffs are not for medical restraint in any way shape or form,” he said. “That is something that has to be done by physician orders and by medical personnel. My personnel will only step in and intervene when someone’s physical life or physical health is in danger.”
The security personnel are easily identifiable and are approachable by the public. For many, they may be the first hospital employees they interact with.
Their uniforms were designed to emulate that of law enforcement. Their body armor vest has an embroidered patch on it to make them easily identifiable to the public.
“They are highly trained in customer service,” Miller said. “They will give you directions and give you guidance. If you have any questions about the facility, they are there to talk to. They are the true front-line ambassadors for the hospital.”
