St. Joseph Hospital has taken an innovative step to enhance campus safety by establishing a Nashua Police Department substation in the main atrium. This new space provides on-duty officers with a dedicated workspace with computer access and hospital surveillance views. St. Joseph Hospital is one of only a handful of hospitals in New Hampshire with this level of law enforcement integration.
“The substation’s visibility helps normalize police presence as part of our community relations, not just during emergencies,” says Paul Fulone, St. Joseph Hospital director of security. “Officers become more familiar with the hospital’s layout, and staff feel safer seeing them regularly.”
This initiative is timely given recent incidents of violence, including at healthcare facilities across New England. The substation is part of a comprehensive approach to hospital safety that includes staff de-escalation training, personal safety programs and wireless panic alarms in key areas. Through quarterly meetings with local law enforcement, Fulone and his team continue to refine and enhance its security protocols.
“We’re creating layers of protection while maintaining an open, healing environment,” says Fulone. “It’s about prevention and preparedness while staying true to our mission of care.”