U of A Hospital emergency department adds weapon detection scanner

University of Alberta Hospital's emergency department now screens all patients and visitors with a weapon detection scanner before entry, the hospital announced Wednesday.

The scanner is Alberta's second—Royal Alexandra Hospital installed one in its emergency department in May, after a stabbing there on April 3 left one person with life-threatening injuries.

The system uses electromagnetic detection and artificial intelligence to measure the size, density, and shape of objects, then determines if they match prohibited items in a database. Patients and visitors can voluntarily keep prohibited items in a locker, deposit them in a car or safety locker, give them to a family member or friend, or use amnesty bins for some items.

Royal Alexandra Hospital's scanner has completed more than 56,000 scans since May. About 12 people declined screening; one of those asked to call 811, and was allowed emergency-department access with Protective Services oversight for less than an hour before completing screening.

The most common prohibited items found at Royal Alexandra were knives—pocket knives, hunting knives, and fishing knives. Other items included tools, scissors, flathead long screwdrivers, and bear spray. No firearms were found.

Visitor traffic at Royal Alexandra dropped from nearly 100 per night to 30 to 50 per night after the scanner was installed.

Ryan Cammidge, director of protective services in Edmonton corridor for Alberta Health Services, said patients appreciate the screening. "When you look at the numbers, a vast, vast majority of everyone is fully compliant and actually appreciative of the screening," Cammidge said. He added that the systems are in high demand across the United States, making them scarce, and that the hospital was fortunate to install one quickly.

If a person declines screening but requires urgent care, Protective Services will accompany them during treatment.