Maybridge Hospital

You are the Director of Security of a large metropolitan hospital. Ann Myers, the Director of the Psychiatric Ward recently contacted you regarding a problem with some critically ill psychiatric patients. Apparently, some of these patients have been able to leave the area unattended without permission. On more than one occasion, these unattended patients had caused problems in other areas of the hospital. Ann said that the problem seemed to be with the security measures for the entrance door to the unit, but so far the problem was something of a mystery, and nobody knew what was causing the breakdown in controls. On a tour of the site you note that there are two doors. The outer door lets you into the unit. The inner security door lets you into the high security area. Both doors are card key controlled.

You are informed that all patients who had left the unit without permission are from the high security area and had gotten out around meal time. Meals are brought in on food carts from the kitchen. All patients eat in the dining area. Ann feels there is a problem with the food service procedures.

You decide to investigate this situation. What would you do?