On Thursday, April 2, 2026, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center released a report that lays out a slate of new safety measures aimed squarely at protecting employees. The update points to completed de‑escalation training, bolstered early response teams and expanded weapons screening at hospital entrances. Leaders say more is coming, including additional drills, emergency‑department redesigns and possible screening at some outpatient clinics.
What the report says
According to the report, more than 1,100 employees have completed de‑escalation training, and early response teams responded to nearly 1,000 calls in the last six months. The document also notes that the hospital’s weapons‑screening technology has already checked more than 1 million visitors. Leadership plans to expand training, run more safety drills, upgrade emergency‑department spaces and explore screening in outpatient settings, according to WSYX.
On-the-ground screening and checkpoints
Wexner has installed weapon‑detection systems at multiple public entrances and uses AI‑assisted sensors to flag dense metal items, officials told The Lantern. That reporting put the detectors at nine entrances and found they flagged roughly 584 weapons in September. When the system flags an item, visitors are offered an amnesty box or asked to secure the object elsewhere, and contracted staff run the checkpoints. The student outlet also reported that the systems are manufactured by Evolv and that both the equipment and staffing carry significant costs for the medical center.
Data and early results
A workplace‑safety review released by the medical center found that in 2024 more than 9,500 weapons were stopped at the emergency entrances of University Hospital and East Hospital. Those items included thousands of knives and dozens of firearms. The review also logged 402 incidents in 2024 in which patients or visitors became violent, with nurses involved in a large share of the cases. At the same time, calls for security assistance dropped 22% and formal incident reports declined 30% between 2021 and 2024, according to WOSU.
Staff response and next steps
The report lands amid sustained pressure from nurses and other staff who are demanding stronger protections after several high‑profile incidents. Local coverage after a man was charged with assaulting a nurse while holding a newborn in November 2025 helped spotlight workplace risks and union calls for more security. Hospital leaders say their layered strategy of training, physical environment changes and technology is meant to better protect staff and patients while still keeping care accessible.
What to expect
Officials say the safety push will be iterative and adjusted as the medical center studies outcomes and hears from staff. According to WSYX, the hospital is emphasizing standardized post‑incident support for employees and plans to keep checkpoints and a visible security presence at key entrances in place for the foreseeable future. For now, the report frames the effort as a mix of training, drills and technology rather than a single quick fix.
