Niagara Falls Hospital Looks to Beef Up Security

Niagara Falls Hospital Looks to Beef Up Security

The Niagara Falls Hospital is condensing points of entry and investing in visitor management.

Officials in Niagara Falls are investing in measures to better secure Memorial Medical Center after an independent investigation by a local news station found security holes in the open-campus medical center.

The hospital is now condensing points of entry. Earlier this year, there were 11 open entrances in which the public could access the hospital. Now, there are only three.

"The first thing they said is to limit your points of entry," President and CEO of Memorial Medical Center Joe Ruffolo said in response to the investigation. "That's exactly what we did."

In order to bolster security at the three points of entry, the hospital is investing $60,000 to redesign the main lobby. The new design will put the check in desk right near the entrance so that no visitor comes through the entrance without checking in with the front desk.

The hospital has said that they will continue to look for ways to ensure the medical center is as secure as possible, which includes looking for an updated visitor management system. 

"I think we want to see if we can manage ourselves with some additional electronic photography and a badge system for visitors," Ruffolo said.

The new redesigned lobby is to be in effect by the end of January. Ruffolo says he plans to bring back the Niagara Falls Police to test its new security procedures then. 

"The only thing I can guarantee is that will will continue to make this place more safe," Ruffolo said.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now