Nova Scotia Health is expanding a pilot program that will see AI-powered weapons detection systems installed in hospitals across the province.
This comes after an incident in January that saw three staff members stabbed by a patient at the Halifax Infirmary’s emergency department.
As a result, the province launched a two-week pilot back in May at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre to install an AI-powered weapons detection system.
During that two weeks, Nova Scotia Health says more than 7,400 people were screened and roughly 49 potentially dangerous items were intercepted.
“This technology is helping us create a safer, more secure healthcare environment for everyone who walks through our doors,” said Dean Stienburg, director of security for Nova Scotia Health. “We’re proud to lead the way with this innovative approach and appreciate the support we’ve received from patients, staff and the public.”
Nova Scotia Health says it plans to install these units at 12 sites across the province in the coming months, including the Halifax Infirmary site and Dartmouth General Hospital this month.
Nova Scotia Health says the system brings with it many advantages, including reducing the number of secondary searches by about 25 per cent as well as improving screening times.
“The safety and security of nurses, patients and others continues to be a high priority for the nurses’ union. Using proven technology to reduce the risk of harm and violence in our workplaces is a worthwhile investment. This initiative offers prevention without intruding upon those who are providing or seeking care,” said Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union.
Nova Scotia Health says the system is also better able to distinguish between everyday personal items and actual weapons.
