Med center community can help deter tailgaters 

A woman walking through a door

An employee identification badge is more than just a way to get into work. It also grants access to colleagues, guests, valuables and critical equipment used to care for patients and conduct research. 

Nebraska Medicine and UNMC leaders are asking the med center community to protect their personal safety and valuable assets from potential theft or damage by not letting others into secured buildings or areas without a work identification badge. 

While it may be second nature to hold the door for someone behind you, or someone who is “tailgating” you, people are urged to think twice when at work.  

“Some people with bad intentions are counting on someone being nice, and once they get in that door, they gain access to many places,” said Charlotte Evans, chief of police and associate vice chancellor for the UNMC Department of Public Safety. 

Security is the responsibility of every medical center staffer, faculty member and student, Evans said. 

At the medical center campus, people should call Public Safety at 402-559-5111 if they encounter: 

  • Someone attempting to get into a secured building without a badge.
  • Someone in a secured building without a badge. 
  • Someone on a secured elevator without a badge. 
  • Anyone, anywhere on campus who appears in need of assistance, seems out of place or gives cause for concern. 

A call to Public Safety will ensure the unaccompanied guest without a badge either gets the help they need or a quicker escort from the property. 

Reminders: 

  • Visiting vendors and collaborators are expected to call their campus contact on arrival and meet at an appropriate location to be escorted. 
  • Badges are required to be worn by all staff at all times while at work. Staff who have forgotten their badge will be asked to retrieve it to gain proper entry. 

Read tips on dealing with strangers in the workplace