SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A recent rise in violence against healthcare employees has hospitals amping up security.
On top of the shooting that occurred at UPMC in York County, there have been a few violent acts in Scranton as well.
There were two violent attacks at Geisinger CMC in Scranton.
Police accuse Keith Tolley of being involved in one of those incidents.
Police say after being denied pain medication, Tolley acted up and stabbed a security guard.
Geisinger tells 28/22 News they are well aware of the challenges and will keep amping up security, saying in part:
In recent years, Geisinger has invested significantly to bolster safety and security. It has been an ongoing focus for us, and we continue to evaluate additional needs.
Geisinger Associate Vice President of Security Operations Sean McGinley
Some of the security improvements include: metal detectors in emergency rooms, more security, and security cameras equipped with AI to automatically send alerts.
Another altercation took place at Commonwealth Health's Regional Hospital in Scranton.
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That's where investigators say Tyheem Alexander attacked staff after they denied him access to a patient.
Regional tells 28/22 News they have a variety of safety measures to protect staff which includes providing their staff with training on de-escalating situations, equipping staff panic buttons, and flagging patients with a history of violence.
Regional also says the following:
We also conduct regular emergency drills with community partners. For security reasons, however, we limit the public disclosure of specific details about these measures to avoid compromising safety protocols or law enforcement tactics.
Commonwealth Health Marketing and Communications Vice President Annmarie Poslock
28/22 News talked with the union that represents some nurses in our area.
They are worried about the safety of their members and are calling on local hospitals to make sure proper staffing and safety measures are in place.
