UTMB HANDBOOK OF OPERATING PROCEDURES

Section 9 Clinical Policies Subject 9.9 Security Policy 9.9.4 Security Management

03/01/95 - Originated 06/23/00 - Reviewed w/ changes -Reviewed w/o changes University Police - Author

Security Management

Audience	The information in this document is intended for all faculty, staff, and students.
Policy	The most important element in maintaining a secure environment is the active participation of all faculty, staff, and students in recognizing, appraising, and initiating realistic security measures to reduce unnecessary risks. Security measures refer not only to the development of appropriate departmental security policies, but also to the conscientious utilization of security devices that have been installed. The law enforcement authority of The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the University Police Department. The University Police Department consists of police officers and guards who patrol interior/exterior areas of institutional facilities on a 24-hour basis.
Security Assessment Procedure	• Certified crime prevention specialists of the University Police Department will serve as resources to departments to assess security systems/processes and make recommendations for improvements and to minimize security risks. To have an internal security assessment done for your area, contact the Police Department. • Any department/unit that develops security policies or installs security devices including keypad doors and monitoring devices must involve the University Police Department in the planning of such actions. • The Chief of Police or designee shall review all department/unit security policies and subsequent revisions. • The Chief of Police will submit quarterly reports to the Chairman of the UTMB General Safety Committee and the Environment of Care Committee. These reports will identify any written hospital security procedures/policies reviewed by the police and will include a list of departments/units that have requested security assessments. • The UTMB General Safety Committee will review, at least annually, all written hospital security procedures/policies. The Chairman may appoint a security subcommittee to accomplish this review and to provide feedback to the UTMB Chief of Police.

Access Control Procedure

• The University Police Department posts guards/police officers at designated hospital entrance points to monitor arrivals and departures by patients, visitors and staff. • Between the hours of 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, all persons entering the Hospitals without a UTMB identification badge are denied access unless unit approval is granted for visitation. • Access to, and security in, the Emergency Department is monitored on a 24-hour basis by the UTMB Police Department utilizing closed circuit television cameras, panic alarms, and police personnel assigned to the facility.

Reporting and Investigation of Security Incidents

• The UTMB Police Department responds to both criminal and non-criminal security/safety-related incidents, including activated fire alarms and persons stuck in elevators. • Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Institutional Division (ID) correctional officers provide security within the TDCJ hospital and on the UTMB campus for the offender patient. TDCJ ID works in cooperation with University Police in providing other security and investigative processes related to campus and employee property. • Hospital personnel are responsible for immediately notifying the University Police Department of any security incident which appears that police intervention may reasonably be necessary to maintain a secure environment. • Hospital personnel are responsible for immediately notifying the University Police Department of any criminal or suspected criminal incident. The Police Department is responsible for conducting all investigations of reported criminal occurrences within its jurisdiction. • Reports related to investigations conducted by the University Police Department are designated as police records. Release of police records is limited and governed by statute and Handbook Policy 2.13.2, Release of Information Under the Texas Public Information Act.

References

Departmental security policies and procedures Institutional Handbook of Operating Procedures Policies: 2.3.3, Threatening Situations 2.3.4, Campus Security Report 2.3.5, Sexual Assault Policy 2.4.1, Identification Badges 2.4.7, Missing or Stolen UTMB Property 2.13.2, Release of Information Under the Texas Public Information Act 3.1.1, Emergency Operations Staffing 4.4.13, Cash Handling and Reporting 9.1.2, Management of Patient Belongings Institutional Handbook of Operating Procedures, cont=d 9.6.1, Emergency Department Responsibility Hospital Emergency Area Radio System 9.7.1, Hospital Visitation 9.9.1, Treatment of Patients in Police or Institutional Custody 9.9.2, Security Associated with The TDCJ Hospital 9.9.3, Hostage Policy Involving TDCJ Hospital Offender Patients