Bassett Healthcare plans to expand K-9 security unit

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network is expanding its K-9 security team and will add another K-9 unit this winter.

“Over the past few years, Bassett’s K-9 program has been very successful,” Bassett Healthcare Network President and CEO Dr. Tommy Ibrahim said in a statement. “We are so proud of the important work our K-9 unit and security personnel do every day to keep our patients, visitors, and staff members safe.”

This past September, Bassett welcomed German shepherd Coal and his partner Ryan Salisbury, to join its other security K-9 Hudson. The trained dogs rotate across Bassett’s hospital and clinic campuses to meet increased security needs and address the uptick in instances of physical and verbal assaults toward health-care workers in recent years.

“Coal and Hudson are extremely intelligent, highly in tune with their environments, and adaptable to the moment,” Harold Southworth, director of public safety and transportation, said. “They add a new level of expertise and human connection to our security team.”

The dogs tend to have a calming effect in difficult situations, he says, while giving others in the room a sense of safety.

“Patients, staff, and visitors are always happy to see Coal, especially kids,” Salisbury says. “Like Hudson, Coal will have his own baseball-style trading card available for young patients and visitors who wish to collect them.”

A German shepherd named Ryker recently retired from his duties as a K-9 after serving as part of Bassett’s security team for more than a year.

The growing K-9 security team is possible due to the support of Jane Forbes Clark of Cooperstown. In addition to the K-9 units, Bassett’s security department includes more than 60 security officers who staff five hospitals and more than two dozen regional health centers. They act as a safety resource for staff, patients, and visitors, responding to emergencies and serving as the liaison with local law-enforcement agencies.