Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has released educational videos on how to prevent tailgating in its facility.
Tailgating, also known as piggybacking, is the act of an unauthorized person following an authorized person into a restricted area.
The dramatizations, acted out by authentic hospital employees, were produced following multiple incidents in December in which a woman posed as a doctor, gaining entry into multiple operating rooms for at least two days. The videos were rolled out as part of the hospital’s Aware Because We Care campaign.
Cheryl Wang was a former surgical resident who had been let go from Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City last year following a verbal altercation with another employee.
Wang tagged along behind Brigham employees during shift changes where she observed operations, attended patient rounds in thoracic surgery, and transported a patient.
She also entered a conference room at Massachusetts General Hospital and attempted to gain entry to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Martin Green, president of the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety, says there is no way to know for sure how often tailgating happens since it isn’t usually made aware of unless a dangerous incident occurs.
Green estimates the occurrences happen at least once every day in almost every healthcare facility, reports The Boston Globe.
By Tuesday, all 18,000 hospital employees will have participated in a 30-minute session which includes the showing of the two cautionary videos and role-play situations.
One of the videos portrays two hospital employees talking as they enter an elevator to a restricted floor with their ID badges, failing to notice another person who has entered the elevator with them. The unauthorized person enters the maternity ward and walks out with a newborn.
The other depicts a doctor holding an operating room door open for a man. Exactly what happens next is not shown, but it suggests a violent occurrence ensues.
The videos were meant to “hit an emotional chord so the messages sticks in employees’ minds”, says hospital spokeswoman Erin McDonough.
As an additional preventative measure, the hospital will begin posting signs at all secured area entries reminding employees to be aware of their surroundings.
Hospital employees will also be held responsible for anyone who gains entry into restricted areas on their badge.
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