How Carolinas Medical Center Made the Transition
In November of 2009, the security department of CMC Northeast began to transition this 457-bed facility located in Concord, N.C., into the corporate security umbrella of Carolinas Healthcare System. This merger would add 30 FTEs and 4.5 million square feet of patrol area to the mix.
The move was not without its challenges. News of the change and the spread of rumors out of fear of the unknown can rapidly lower morale if management fails to communicate effectively. Face-to-face meetings between management and staff, and the personal interaction that ensued, helped to allay some of the concerns of the officers. Staff understandably want to know how such a change is going to affect them on multiple levels. Keeping a positive attitude, promoting open discussion, and giving honest answers to questions help officers understand the big picture. As a result, they are more likely to accept the corporate mission.
Joining a corporate team doesn’t always mean that the incoming facility must do everything differently, nor does it mean that there is only one set of rules that all must follow. Each facility is unique, particularly in the way security operates, and this can have its positives and its negatives.
We have found that it is not necessary to totally rebuild an existing department from the ground up, as that is counterproductive. The key is to find a balance that blends the corporate way into the individual facility as seamlessly as possible. One way we have achieved that balance has been to be flexible and to slowly integrate corporate policies into the existing policies and procedures.
Staff input is important to help minimize the impact of changes on daily operations. We were also mindful that all policies and procedures, regardless of location, ensured that the corporate mission and goals were exemplified. Integrating security programs offers benefits that often aren’t easily afforded by individual facilities. Carolinas Healthcare System, for example, offers security officers the chance to become certified in multiple tiers of the IAHSS certification program. The system also provides increased access to a broader range of career opportunities, which has been an added benefit, considering the local and national economic meltdown.
Carolinas Healthcare also provides each security officer with standard personal protective equipment (such as bullet resistant vests) that was not available with the prior security program. The addition of such equipment has significantly boosted security staff morale, reassuring personnel that administration understands the risks involved in their job, and that officer safety is of utmost importance.
