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.