Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.25 Patrol: Medical Centers
4.25. 4 Security Services Responsibilities (Revised: 11/3/25 )
Health Safety Ambassadors (HSAs) play an integral role in ensuring the safety and security of
patients, visitors and staff at UCSF Medical Center locations .
A. Screening at Emergency Department (ED) Entrances
Health Safety Ambassadors stationed at the ED entrances to the UCSF hospital s are
responsible for screening all individuals entering the ED for weapons and other contraband ,
using a walk -through metal detector or hand -held metal detection wand .
1. An HSA posted at the ambulance bay ED entrance is responsible for screen ing
patients and visitors arriving by ambulance with a metal detection wand.
2. Any c ontraband item s found during screening should be confiscated by the HSA
and disposed of appropriately . Illicit items that are found , including weapons, drugs
and drug paraphernalia, will be turned over immediately to a sworn UCSF Police
officer.
B. High -Risk Patient Area Responsibilities
UCSF hospitals have designated “high -risk patient areas” where high-risk patients, such as
forensic patients (incarcerated inmates), patients with a severe behavioral illness and ED
hold patients, are treated . In these areas:
1. Health Safety Ambassador s will control access to the high-risk patient areas,
monitor the areas for unauthorized personnel and ensure that all visitors and staff
have and are appropriately displaying some form of UCSF identification (e.g.,
employee badge, visitor badge, vendor identification)
2. After hours, on-duty HSAs will conduct foot patrol and passing calls of high -risk
areas and otherwise be stationed at fixed posts in those areas
3. Health Safety Ambassador s will contiuously monitor high -risk patients via line of
sight or CCTV.
C. Patrolling Medical Center Propert ies
Health Safety Ambassador s will conduct proactive crime prevention and security
surveillance patrols of UCSF Medical Center propert ies. Any suspicious circumstances or
criminal activity they encounter will be reported to Medical Center Communications or the
ECC for further investigation/disposition .
D. Assisting Hospital Staff
Health Safety Ambassador s will assist hospital staff by helping to keep verbal and physical
interactions with confrontational patient s to a minimum and by helping to hold down
patient s, as directed, when the application of restraints is necessary and prescribed by
hospital policy.