Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center to implement entrance security screenings Sept. 12

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - As part of a phased implementation of entrance security screenings at each of Geisinger's hospitals, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center will introduce security screenings on Saturday, Sept. 12.

These public-entrance screenings are intended to keep the hospital safe for all who work, receive care or visit their loved ones in the facility.

Weapons of any kind, including firearms and knives, are prohibited from all Geisinger facilities. People should not bring these items with them when entering a Geisinger hospital or clinic for an appointment or visit. Any weapon found through the entrance screening will not be allowed to enter the facility and must be returned to the owner's vehicle.

Beyond the screening already in place at the emergency room, Geisinger Wyoming Valley will screen patients and visitors at all public entrances on the medical center campus. Screening will take place from the time each entrance opens to 8 p.m. when visiting hours are over. After 8 p.m., all visitors must enter the hospital through the emergency room.

When the screenings begin, the public entrance to the Valley Medical Building on Geisinger Wyoming Valley's west campus will become an employee-only entrance that requires proxy badge access. Patients and visitors arriving for Women's Health appointments will need to use the west campus main entrance to reach the Valley Medical Building, and the hospital's Guest Services team will help guide patients during the transition.

Because they will pass through metal detectors similar to those at airports and courthouses, everyone using public hospital entrances will be asked to remove metal objects from their pockets. If the detector activates, a security officer will conduct a scan with a handheld device.

Geisinger has used a similar process with metal detectors at all emergency room entrances since 2021, preventing thousands of weapons and other dangerous items from entering its facilities.
"Our hospitals are places of healing," said Sean McGinley, associate vice president of police and security operations for Geisinger. "We take security seriously and are continuing to improve and enhance our tools and training. This is yet another investment we're making for the safety of our employees, patients and visitors."

Since March, the Pennsylvania-based health system has implemented entrance screenings at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Medical Center Muncy. All Geisinger hospitals are expected to adopt the security measure by the beginning of 2027.

About Geisinger

Geisinger is among the nation's leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in rural and urban communities across central and northeastern Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the nonprofit system generates $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 130 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses - and Geisinger Health Plan, with 509,000+ enrollees in commercial and government plans. Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 600 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,600 clinical research studies. With 28,000 employees, including 1,900 employed physicians and 5,400 registered nurses, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania's largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $18 billion on the state's economy. In 2024, Geisinger joined Risant Health, a nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.