ST. LOUIS – SSM Health DePaul Hospital now has a metal detector and an around-the-clock armed security guard at its emergency department. The move comes a week after a 30-year-old woman stabbed a nurse and paramedic at the Bridgeton hospital.
SSM Health DePaul is the fourth SSM hospital and sixth St. Louis-area hospital to use metal detectors in emergency departments, according to Brian Perkins, a spokesperson with SSM Health DePaul.
SSM Health says it is also in the process of making other security enhancements, according to a statement. The measures come after the hospital says it spent months conducting an extensive system wide evaluation of its physical environments, plus input from team members.
Here are some of the significant, and immediate measures:
Additional on-site security officers with expanded education and training
State-of-the-art weapons detection technology and systems in areas like Emergency Department entrances. These systems are significantly more advanced than traditional metal detectors. (A traditional metal detector has been added at SSM DePaul until the newer technology can be implemented)
Redesign of current physical environments to further strengthen safety and security
Centralization and standardization of our security functions to oversee this critical work
Jimissa Rivers, 30, from Dellwood is charged with two counts of assault for the July 11 incident. Prosecutors say she was caught on video attempting to kill a nurse and a paramedic by stabbing them. The victims suffered serious physical injuries. Multiple witnesses were at the scene, some even restrained Rivers, according to the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s office.