Security changes bringing
improved safety to PI hospital
PRESQUE ISLE — In light of security concerns involving bath salts and other drug usage facing health care facilities throughout the state, officials at The Aroostook Medical Center are introducing a series of security enhancements at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital. These measures are aimed at improving safety for patients, visitors and employees.
SECURITAS SECURITY SUPERVISOR Barry Dombroski remotely monitors TAMC’s various entrances from the security office. 
“The ongoing desire to keep staff, visitors and patients safe has led to the need to reevaluate and improve security at the hospital,” said Mark Bourgoin, manager of safety and security at TAMC. “With incidents involving bath salts and drug overdose on the rise, we have decided to be proactive in enhancing our security processes.”
Last November, as a result of increased incidents at hospitals throughout Maine involving drug and bath salt usage, TAMC began utilizing services by Securitas, an internationally acclaimed security provider. Securitas provides specialized training for all its security officers to better equip them for dealing with antagonistic individuals and hostile situations.
In addition to having trained security officers on duty 24 hours a day, all entrances and most public areas in the hospital are also under video surveillance.
“Securitas security officers are responsible for protecting everyone in the hospital,” said Barry Dombroski, Securitas security supervisor. “Video surveillance is a tool that helps us provide an extra level of protection for staff, visitors and patients.”
Dombroski, a former patrolman for the Caribou Police Department with 23 years of experience working in law enforcement, knows something about protecting the public. He is overseeing some important changes impacting safety at the hospital. Before the end of the year, all entrances at the hospital, with the exception of the emergency room entrance, will be locked overnight starting at 8 p.m. until specified unlocking times the next day.
“A.R. Gould’s campus is quite large and has a lot of entrances for employees, as well as visitors,” said Dombroski. “Locking down the facility at night is designed to help protect patients and overnight staff at the hospital.” He is also looking to complement the existing video surveillance with additional camera coverage in the future.
TAMC has had uniformed security officers on staff at the hospital to help keep patients and visitors safe since the 1980s. A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital remains the only hospital north of Bangor providing around-the-clock uniformed security services seven days a week.
After the additional security measures are in place, visitors can still enter the hospital after hours through the emergency entrance. Visitors will simply need to sign in at the registration desk.
