DuBois, PA – The City of DuBois is announcing the start of a new police security force at Penn Highlands Hospital in DuBois.
Penn Highlands Healthcare will pay for up to six full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers to be on scene at the hospital. This will be in addition to their security team that is currently there.
DuBois City Police already respond to calls from the hospital when needed. The DuBois City Police say this will be a win-win for the City and the hospital, as officers will be able to already be on-scene for any incidents.
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Press release from Penn Highlands Healthcare
DuBois, PA – Providing a safe environment for patients, families, and employees has always been a top priority for Penn Highlands Healthcare. With the growth of Penn Highlands DuBois Emergency Department, increasing patient volumes and the expansion of behavioral health services, Penn Highlands DuBois is partnering with the City of DuBois to provide 24/7 police officer coverage at both of the PH DuBois campuses. These officers will work in conjunction with the current hospital security team.
The City and the hospital will work together to improve patient safety by standardizing police procedures, provide better scheduling availability of officers and security staff, and will facilitate the performance and adherence to police standards at PH DuBois East Campus and West Campus. The officers will patrol both facilities, but primarily, time will be focused at the Emergency Department at PH DuBois West location. “This change will help us maintain a safe environment,” says Rhonda Halstead, VP of Operations at PH DuBois and PH Clearfield President. “Our priority is to keep the staff and patients safe and we believe having an officer readily available will help with this effort.”
The City of DuBois will hire up to six (6) Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Police Officers to provide these additional Police Services. If requested by the City, the Police Officers assigned to PH DuBois may leave the premises to assist the other City Police Officers in an emergency.
The anticipated start date will be summer 2021.
For more information about Penn Highlands Healthcare, visit www.phhealthcare.org.
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