Weapon-Free Zone: Metal Detector Program Comes to the Emergency Department

In an effort to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and all who visit, Johns Hopkins Bayview has installed a metal detector at the main entrance of our emergency department (ED). Any individual going through this entrance will be required to walk through the metal detector, which will be active 24/7.

Metal detectors are a common practice in health care and other settings. They detect items that may compromise the safety of those in the hospital. This metal detector was selected with support from our Patient and Family Advisory Councils and is one of the many safety protocols we have in place throughout our facilities.

It is safe for all individuals to pass through the detector, including those with pacemakers, implants of any kind and women who are pregnant. Patients and visitors who may have difficulty moving through the metal detector, such as those in wheelchairs, on stretchers or in medical restraints, will be screened with a handheld device.