Burlington, Vt. – New bag scanning technology at the Emergency Department (ED) entrance of University of Vermont Medical Center will make entering the hospital easier for patients and visitors, starting later this month.

Beginning January 20, patients and visitors entering the ED will once again be able to bring personal bags with them into the hospital. All bags and personal items will be screened using the enhanced technology, which will speed up the screening process for patients and visitors arriving at the ED. The new screening process replaces the hospital’s previous policy, which went into effect in 2023, required patients and visitors in the ED to leave personal bags in their vehicle and utilize clear plastic bags to hold their personal items while in the facility.

Personal bags and items will be screened by members of the hospital’s Security team using the new bag scanners. Secondary, by-hand bag checks will be conducted as necessary. The hospital will continue to use a metal detector at the ED entrance, to screen for weapons and other prohibited items.

Safety screenings are an important aspect of the hospital’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for patients, visitors and health care workers. In recent years, emergency departments and health care workers have continued to experience higher rates of threatening behavior and workplace violence than many other hospital settings.

Hospital leaders say the new scanners balance individual safety, dignity and efficiency, and are a direct response to feedback from patients and visitors.

“We are committed to listening to the feedback of patients and visitors and making improvements that enhance convenience, respect individuals’ dignity and reduce stress during what is already a difficult time,” said Mike-Ann Young, director of security, parking and transportation at UVM Medical Center. “This new technology allows us to maintain strong safety standards for all, while improving experiences for patients, families and employees.”

The bag scanners are used for real-time safety screenings and do not store or share images taken as part of the hospital’s security screening process.

University of Vermont Health – UVM Medical Center
111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401

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About University of Vermont Medical Center

University of Vermont Health – UVM Medical Center is a 499-bed tertiary care regional referral center and Level I Trauma Center, providing advanced, specialized care to more than 1 million residents across Vermont and northern New York. Home to University of Vermont Cancer Center and University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, we serve as both a high-acuity referral hospital and a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. As part of a rural academic health system, we are driving innovation in rural health care delivery, education and research in close partnership with The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Vermont. Together, we are tackling health care’s toughest challenges while strengthening our communities — addressing critical needs that impact access, affordability and health outcomes.

About University of Vermont Health

University of Vermont Health is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org.