Your front-door screening checkpoint does not cover ambulance bay arrivals. Stretcher patients cannot walk through standard weapons detection systems, and that gap creates an unmonitored process where undetected weapons entering the emergency department bypass every control you have in place. Athena Security’s ambulance bay weapons detection workflow screens patients arriving by emergency medical services (EMS) at the entry point itself, with documented screening protocols built into every intake.
Highlights:
Screens stretcher patients at EMS entry
DHS best practices aligned workflow
Digital documentation with photo capture
Athena Security has deployed AI-assisted X-ray solutions across airports, government facilities, and high-security venues since 2018. Our platform integrates with existing baggage screening operations and works with major X-ray hardware systems.
Unlike traditional X-ray scanners that require operators to manually identify every potential threat, our artificial intelligence analyzes each scan automatically. Your security personnel focus only on verified alerts, improving accuracy while reducing operator fatigue.
Ambulance bay weapons screening uses radar imaging positioned at the emergency bay entrances. Unlike the standard concealed weapons detection system at your lobby, the AB-WDS detects both metallic and non-metallic threats on patients who cannot stand or walk. The system resolves images through clothing and some medical equipment to identify concealed weapon shapes while ignoring the stretcher itself.
An operator runs the screening from a single Apple iPad console. The onboard AI analyzes threats in real time and displays a heat-map or skeletal overlay, pinpointing the location of any suspected weapon. Every screening generates a digital record with photo capture, confiscated-items log, operator attribution, and chain-of-custody receipt. Operator App and AI Oversight enforce accountability and integrate with your existing Athena entryway security systems.
Consistent screening surfaces weapons that ad hoc manual processes miss. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Emergency Nursing found that 567 weapons were confiscated after screening 43,321 patients and visitors over six months at a single institution.
The AB-WDS uses non-ionizing imaging radar energy to generate images. It does not alter cells or DNA and is considered safe for continuous use around patients, staff, and visitors. Radiation output stays at or below 2 W/m², well under public safety limits.
Noise output is 55 dB or lower, comparable to a normal conversation. The system operates without disrupting the emergency department (ED) environment, and it requires no special shielding or patient preparation. Your clinical team can work around the scanner during every screening without protective equipment or workflow interruption.
Emergency nurses report high rates of workplace violence. According to the Emergency Nurses Association, 56% of ED nurses were physically assaulted or verbally threatened in the previous 30 days. Screening at the ambulance bay closes a specific entry point where weapons bypass front-door controls and reach the emergency department staff who face the highest violence exposure in healthcare.
Every ambulance bay screening generates a centralized digital record: photo capture, confiscated-items log, operator attribution, and chain-of-custody receipt. Joint Commission expectations for safety and security incident documentation require facilities to document security incidents with specificity. Our platform records relevant details automatically during the screening, not after, so your compliance and reporting records are audit-ready without additional manual steps.
Manual screening at ambulance bay entry points varies by officer availability, shift staffing levels, and individual judgment under chaotic patient arrivals. Inconsistent screening leads to gaps that widen during high-volume periods. The platform enforces a repeatable, DHS best practices aligned protocol for every arrival, so screening does not depend on who is working or how busy the shift gets.
One operator manages the entire ambulance bay screening workflow from a single Apple iPad console. Traditional weapons screening checkpoints carry a significant staffing burden per entry point. Our single-console approach keeps the ambulance bay covered without pulling staff from other positions, and the system integrates with your broader Athena entryway platform so all screening data flows to one dashboard.
For hospitals with EMS entry points, the decision depends on whether stretcher arrivals are screened or bypass the checkpoint entirely.
| Factor | Ambulance Bay Screening | Lobby-Only Screening |
|---|---|---|
| Stretcher patient screening | Screens patients on stretchers at EMS entry | Requires ambulatory walk-through |
| Documentation at intake | Digital record with photo capture at point of arrival | Depends on manual officer documentation |
| Protocol consistency | Enforced screening protocol for every arrival | Varies by officer availability |
| Staffing at EMS entry | Single operator at ambulance bay console | No dedicated EMS entry screening staff |
| Weapons found in high-acuity arrivals | Addresses documented weapons presence in trauma bay arrivals per American College of Surgeons (ACS) and International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) protocols | Does not screen trauma-bay arrivals |
Lobby-only screening is adequate when EMS volume is low and ambulance arrivals already route through a controlled checkpoint with existing detection. Dedicated ambulance bay screening becomes necessary for trauma centers, high-acuity EMS volume, and facilities where the ambulance bay connects directly to the ED without passing through any checkpoint that can detect concealed weapons.
Not every hospital needs screening at the ambulance bay. These conditions signal when it matters.
EMS arrivals bypass the lobby checkpoint entirely. Trauma activations involve patients arriving on stretchers who cannot be walked through standard screening, and the volume of those arrivals determines how large the unscreened gap is.
Your facility currently relies on hand wands or officer judgment for ambulance arrivals. Coverage varies across shifts, requiring manual screenings that depend on who is available and how they assess each situation.
Your ambulance bay connects directly to the ED without passing through any screening checkpoint. Weapons threats enter undetected through most emergency bay entrances that lack dedicated screening, and hospital emergency rooms face this as a unique security challenge distinct from lobby access.
Facilities with very low EMS volume where ambulance arrivals are negligible may not need a dedicated screening workflow. The same applies when all EMS arrivals already route through a controlled lobby checkpoint with existing weapons detection in place.
Organizational policy or accreditation expectations now require documented screening accountability and incident records at every entry point. IAHSS Guideline 04.05 (2025) formally recognizes weapons detection placement planning as a structured evaluation topic. Compliance pressure is driving hospitals to close gaps they previously accepted.
California’s AB 2975 requires hospitals to implement weapons detection by 2027. The mandate covers entry points broadly, and ambulance bays represent a gap that front-door screening alone does not close. Facilities building their compliance program should evaluate whether ambulance bay arrivals require dedicated screening to meet the standard.
You share your ambulance bay layout, EMS workflow, and current screening process so we can map the new system to your entry point configuration.
You see the ambulance bay screening workflow in action, configured for your specific entry point and stretcher-arrival conditions.
Hardware setup and software configuration happen at your ambulance bay entry. Integration with your existing Athena platform connects the new screening capability to your broader security program.
Your security team receives on-site training on the ambulance bay workflow. Our team remains on-site for a minimum of two days for configuration and issue resolution.
Cloud-based monitoring runs through the Athena Control Center Cloud. Your dedicated customer success team and support portal handle updates, questions, and configuration changes.
The platform works with Apollo 500, CEIA Opengate, Garrett, and Metrasens Ultra hardware, so you choose the system that fits your facility. Patented AI evasion detection catches bypass attempts at the ambulance bay entry. Every screening follows DHS best practices, documented automatically. Case studies show how this works in practice.
Screening won’t slow care. The workflow integrates into the EMS handoff process, not around it. One operator runs the process from a single Apple iPad console, and the platform captures documentation during the screening itself without adding manual steps.
No threat detection system can guarantee 100% effectiveness. Athena detection products are designed to enhance safety and help reduce threats when properly configured, deployed, and utilized. Athena solutions should be used as part of a comprehensive, multilayered security strategy.
Athena delivers capabilities other security solutions cannot match. Our platform addresses real-world challenges security personnel face while helping organizations meet federal compliance requirements.
Most weapons detection vendors lock you into proprietary equipment. That means limited choices and potential vendor dependence for years. Athena’s platform works with Apollo 500, Apollo 650, CEIA Opengate, Garrett, and Metrasens Ultra systems. You select hardware that matches your throughput requirements, budget constraints, and facility layout.
Athena is the only platform designed specifically around Department of Homeland Security best practices for patron screening. The system digitizes and enforces guidelines including documentation requirements, testing protocols, and secondary screening procedures. When auditors arrive, you have complete documentation.
We pioneered and patented technology that detects visitors attempting to bypass screening entirely. Traditional metal detectors only monitor the portal itself. Our computer vision algorithms monitor the entire screening area continuously. When individuals attempt to evade detection, security staff receive instant notifications. This proactive threat detection catches attempts other gun detection systems miss completely.
While competitors offer point solutions, Athena integrates weapons detection with visitor management, AI X-ray screening, telepresence security, and augmented reality alert glasses. When the X-ray system detects a threat, it automatically alerts AR glasses and triggers personalized hologram instructions. That integration creates layered security measures traditional systems cannot provide.
Security leaders at Duke Health, Memorial Hermann, and Lamar Consolidated ISD trust Athena to protect their people. See why hospitals, schools, and government buildings choose our platform. Book a 30-minute demo and we’ll show you exactly what our concealed weapons detection system can do for your facility.
| Category | Specification | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Imaging | Technology | Imaging Radar (non-ionizing) |
| Grid | 160 x 160 x 128 | |
| Mesh spacing | 6mm | |
| Scanning volume | 960 x 960 x 768mm | |
| Resolution | 10mm spatial / 5mm line | |
| Frame rate | 5 FPS or higher | |
| Safety | Noise | 55 dB or lower |
| Electrical | Voltage | 120V (±10%) |
| Power | 500W | |
| Frequency | 50 to 60 Hz | |
| Physical | Protection rating | IP20 (indoor, covered environments) |
| Interfaces | Connections | Power switch, leakage protector, power input, Gigabit Ethernet |
The AB-WDS mounts on a hydraulic stand that adjusts to patient intake height. The unit’s footprint is 1,076mm x 1,148mm with a depth of 101.5mm, compact enough for most ambulance bay configurations. At 30 kg, the system does not require structural reinforcement.
Power requirements are standard: 120V at 500W, comparable to a desktop computer. No dedicated circuit is needed in most facility configurations. The system connects to your network via Gigabit Ethernet, so your IT team will need a network drop at the ambulance bay entry point. The IP20 protection rating means the unit is designed for covered environments, so placement should be under the ambulance bay canopy or inside the vestibule rather than in an exposed outdoor location.
[Hospital Security →]
[School Security →]
[Casino Security →]
[Courthouse Security →]
[Hospital Security →]
[Airport Security →]
[Warehouse Security →]
[Corporate Security →]
[Stadium Security →]
[Venue Security →]
The device uses low-frequency electromagnetic technology, dynamic non-contact detection, and meets EMC electromagnetic radiation standards. It is safe for pregnant women, children, and other humans, as well as pacemakers and electronic devices.
EN 45502-2-1:2003. (Cardiac pacemakers)
EN 45502-2-2:2008. (Implantable defibrillators)
ISO 14117:2019. (Cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization devices)
ISO 14708-1:2014 (Implants for surgery)
ISO 14708-2:2019 (Cardiac pacemakers)
ISO 14708-3:2017 (Implantable neurostimulators)
ISO 14708-4:2008 (Implantable infusion pumps) ISO 14708-5:2020 (Circulatory support devices) ISO 14708-6:2019 (Implantable tachyarrhythmia treatment devices) ISO 14708-7:2019 (Cochlear implants, auditory brainstem implant systems)
Athena protects 500+ facilities across the United States. Our AI-powered gun detection system helps security teams at leading organizations create safer environments.
Duke Health deployed our weapons detection platform across 21 screening locations. Memorial Hermann relies on our technology at facilities across Houston. Lamar Consolidated ISD installed 24 systems throughout their school district. Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Indiana Regional Medical Center, and Parkwest Casino chose Athena for integrated entryway security.
The Ambulance Bay WDS is purpose-built to address healthcare security gaps with:
Athena’s Ambulance Bay WDS is a purpose-built weapons detection solution specifically designed to address one of healthcare security’s most challenging operational gaps — screening patients, visitors, and EMS personnel entering through ambulance bay and emergency department access points without slowing critical patient care workflows. Traditional walk-through screening methods were not designed for emergency medical environments where patients may arrive on stretchers, in wheelchairs, or requiring immediate medical attention. Athena’s Ambulance Bay WDS was built specifically to address this challenge.
Emergency Medical Workflow Support:
Security and Operational Intelligence:
Compliance and Documentation Support:
Healthcare-Specific Design Advantages:
Athena’s Ambulance Bay WDS helps healthcare organizations improve emergency entrance safety while maintaining the fast, efficient, and patient-centered workflows that emergency department operations require
Athena’s security intelligence platform includes a comprehensive suite of healthcare-specific features, workflows, hardware solutions, and compliance tools designed to address the unique operational, clinical, and regulatory requirements of hospital and healthcare facility environments. Athena’s healthcare solutions go beyond standard weapons detection to address the full entryway security challenge across main entrances, emergency departments, and ambulance bay access points.
Hardware Solutions Designed for Healthcare:
Healthcare-Specific Workflow Support:
Healthcare System Integrations:
Healthcare Compliance and Documentation Support:
Operational Intelligence and Visibility:
Athena’s healthcare platform helps hospitals and healthcare facilities improve entryway security, support regulatory compliance preparation, and maintain a welcoming and efficient experience for patients, visitors, and staff across every access point
Athena’s Ambulance Bay WDS is purpose-built to balance emergency medical access priorities with consistent security screening requirements — recognizing that ambulance bay and emergency department environments operate under fundamentally different conditions than standard building entrances. The system is specifically designed to accommodate the fast-paced, unpredictable, and patient-centered nature of emergency medical operations while still providing meaningful security coverage at one of healthcare’s most challenging access points.
Emergency Patient Access Support:
Security screening in ambulance bay environments can be configured to integrate with hospital security systems, patient tracking platforms, and emergency department workflows according to facility-specific requirements and medical protocols.
You need a platform that catches threats before they enter your facility. Athena’s AI-powered system works with the hardware you choose while adding intelligent oversight that traditional metal detectors lack. Our technology helps you meet DHS best practices, reduce staffing gaps, and document every screening for compliance auditing.
