Welcome
to the Boston Chapter of the International Association
of Hospital Security & Safety (IAHSS) website!
Following an exciting and groundbreaking year for
the chapter in 2007, the chapter officers and members
are looking forward to another outstanding year full
of educational and networking opportunities. To date,
2008 has already had many successful programs, including
our summer social event at the Pawtucket Red Sox game
and the 13th Annual Memorial Challenge Golf Tournament.
We also have an excellent New England Fall Regional
Breakfast meeting featuring four prominent speakers
that is coming up on Friday, September 12, 2008 at
the Doubletree Guest Suites in Boston. Please join
us!
The Boston chapter is also very proud to have Boston's
own Bonnie Michelman serving again as national president
of IAHSS. Congratulations Bonnie!
Please take a moment to review our recently revised
website that includes a new section for events displaying
some photos from our most recent chapter activities
and programs. Many more updates for the site are under
construction, including a frequently asked question
(FAQ) section, and will be available soon.
The Boston Chapter of the International Association
of Hospital Security & Safety (IAHSS) is a group
of security and safety professionals committed to
advancing the profession through education and networking.
The Chapter’s scholarship program benefits new members
within the industry as they strive to further their
education. The Chapter is a great resource for networking
opportunities via connections with local and other
law enforcement agencies and disaster response personnel.
These contacts are eager to lend assistance, guidance,
and information from their vast experience in today’s
challenging security operations field. Education is
the stepping-stone to continually improving the industry.
The Chapter recognizes this and provides excellent
instruction for officers and supervisors and the Certified
Healthcare Professional Associate designation through
its nationally certified training program.
Respectfully submitted,
Craig Forcina, Chairperson
Some chapter highlights from 2007 were:
In 2007, the IAHSS Boston Chapter experienced an
exceptional, record-breaking year at the local and
national level and welcomed 19 new members.
The Boston Chapter was the proud host of the 2007
IAHSS Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Boston, Massachusetts,
which was held in June. Bonnie Michelman of Massachusetts
General Hospital and Connie Packard of Boston University
Medical Center served as co-chairs for the event and
successfully led a 13-member committee. Together,
they produced a record-breaking AGM in terms of total,
first-time and regional attendees as well as profit.
Experts in the fields of liability/risk management,
terrorism, media strategies, and workplace violence
led our outstanding array of workshops at the AGM.
Through these educational sessions, attendees heard
from speakers who have extensive experience and learned
how to strategically improve the security and safety
of their facilities. The program featured a Spirit
of Boston cruise, hospital tours, golf tournament,
spouse program, Boston Pops show, and many other attractions
for all attendees. The Boston Chapter donated all
of the proceeds from the golf tournament to the Foundation.
The Boston Chapter sponsored the annual Edwin W.
Stedman Scholarship, funded by the proceeds from the
Memorial Challenge Golf Tournament. The scholarship,
founded to assist with and promote professionalism
and education in the security field, provides monetary
assistance to healthcare security professionals who
are attending formal education programs. This scholarship
helps the recipients advance their careers in the
healthcare security industry or other areas of protective
services. The Boston Chapter was honored to award
the Edwin W. Stedman Scholarship to five applicants
in the amount of $4,000. A donation of $1,000 was
also made to the Foundation from the proceeds of the
Memorial Challenge Golf Tournament.
Another formal IAHSS program that the Boston Chapter
participates in annually is the Basic Officer Training
Program. Attendees receive professional training on
security in the healthcare field and this past year,
16 members of the program became certified.
In addition, the Boston Chapter hosted a New England
Regional Breakfast last year with 41 security professionals
in attendance. The speakers included Evelyn Meserve,
President-Elect, IAHSS, who presented on upcoming
national initiatives; Bill Dickinson, Boston Police
Detective from the Boston Regional Intelligence Center
(BRIC) who spoke about a newly developed information
sharing system; and Kevin Kiely, Senior Healthcare
Compliance Advisor from Triumvirate Environmental,
who presented on evacuation and emergency planning.
The Boston Chapter continued its commitment to the
advancement of healthcare safety and security by hosting
a one-day educational program. Three excellent speakers
shared their experience and knowledge with 26 attendees.
Kathryn Brinsfield MD, MPH, FACEP, Medical Director
For Homeland Security EMS, Public Health Preparedness,
and Boston Public Health for Boston MMRS spoke on
“Federal Health Preparedness: Structure and Grants.”
Attorney Len Engel, the Policy and Program Coordinator
of the Criminal Justice Institute, talked about “Criminal
Offender Record Information (CORI) Reform.” Peter
Giniatt, RN, Director of Emergency Preparedness for
Rhode Island Hospital presented a program titled “The
Reality of Patient Surge At Rhode Island Hospital/Station
Night Club Fire Response.”
In addition to the several large events that took
place in 2007, the IAHSS Boston Chapter also participated
in several other activities, including:
A joint meeting of the Boston Chapter ASIS/IAHSS,
which was held at the Boston Convention and Exposition
Center. One hundred attendees listened to Steve Morash,
former Deputy Director of Boston Emergency Management
Agency and Director of Emergency Response Planning
for Boston University, speak about emergency preparedness.
The Hospital Intel Network was created as a public-private
intelligence sharing network sponsored by the Boston
Chapter of IAHSS and the Boston Regional Intelligence
Center (BRIC). The continued success of the network
is based on information sharing of each member healthcare
institution and member law enforcement agency.
The Boston Chapter participated at the National and
Regional level, attending the Mid-Winter Conference
as well as the Connecticut and Pine Tree Chapter conferences
this past year.
Thirteen different meetings and events were held
within the Boston Chapter to promote professionalism
and knowledge.
The Boston Chapter plans to continue its dedication
to the advancement of skills of security professionals
within healthcare organizations. Members are committed
to gathering monthly to look for innovative ways to
make significant contributions to the healthcare security
and safety profession. One unique aspect of the Boston
Chapter is that, out of the many active members, a
number of them have been involved with the group for
the last 20-30 years.
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