Protective Services to enhance security at entrances, elevators

Yale New Haven Hospital’s Protective Services department periodically changes procedures in response to security events and trends throughout the U.S. and world.

This month, the department is making some changes to enhance the safety of patients, visitors and hospital staff. These include locking elevators at the Saint Raphael Campus and the East, West and South pavilions at the York Street Campus at 8 pm, versus the current 9 pm. Users will be able to go down to the main floors after 8 pm, but visitors wishing to go up will have to request assistance from a Protective Services officer.

Other updated security measures include moving Protective Services officers from the visitor reception desks at the main entry at the East Pavilion and West Pavilion to a highly visible, centrally located position. The EP officer will be stationed at a podium up the hall from the main entrance, closer to the Atrium.

The officer at the YNHCH entrance will move to a location with a better view of the children’s hospital and employee entrances in the West Pavilion. Both moves will make officers more visible, allow them to interact more with patients, visitors and staff and make it easier for them to check employee ID badges and visitor passes.

Additional Protective Services changes include:

• Locking the revolving door of the YSC West Pavilion employee entrance at 8 pm. Employees can use their badges to access the adjacent door.
• Installing a badge reader at the stairwell doors near the West Pavilion employee entrance, requiring employees to use their badges to enter and ensuring that only employees can access the stairwell.