Athena Security Showcases Unified Entryway Platform at IAHSS Annual Conference

Athena Security showcased its unified entryway security platform at the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) Annual Conference, which took place April 13–15 in New Orleans. The company highlighted how hospital visitor management, concealed weapons detection and its newly launched Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System (WDS) work together to secure one of the most complex environments in healthcare: the hospital entryway.

As healthcare organizations face increasing pressure to protect staff and patients while maintaining efficient operations, Athena Security’s approach brought together identity verification and weapons detection into a single coordinated platform designed to identify both who is entering a facility and what they may be carrying before access is granted.

Introducing the Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System

At the conference, Athena spotlighted its newest innovation: the Ambulance Bay Weapons Detection System, powered by its Ambulance Bay AI Agent.

Purpose-built for emergency department intake, the system enabled hospitals to automatically screen patients arriving on stretchers or in wheelchairs without requiring manual hand-wanding. This addressed one of the most persistent security gaps in healthcare, where traditional screening methods are often ineffective due to metal gurneys and the urgency of patient care.

Attendees were able to request a private demo of the Ambulance Bay WDS, which was available exclusively by appointment in a private suite.

Unified Entryway Security Platform

Beyond the ambulance bay, Athena Security demonstrated how its integrated platform brings together multiple capabilities, including:

• Hospital Visitor Management (VMS) to verify identity and manage visitor access in real time
• Concealed Weapons Detection (WDS) to screen individuals for potential threats without slowing entry
• Person of Interest (POI) Identification to cross-check individuals against watchlists and prior incidents
• AI-Assisted X-ray to enhance bag screening with intelligent threat detection
• Centralized Event Correlation to automatically associate weapons detection events with visitor records

This unified approach enabled healthcare organizations to move from fragmented security processes to a streamlined coordinated workflow, improving both visibility and response times.

Athena Security co-founder and CTO Chris Ciabarra said:

“Security leaders don’t just need to know that a threat exists — they need to know who is entering their facility and what they may have with them now or in the past,” said Chris Ciabarra, co-founder and CTO of Athena Security. “When hospital visitor management and weapons detection operate as one platform, organizations gain visibility, speed, security, and control at the entryway. Others stop at detection, but that’s where we begin.”

Built for Healthcare Compliance and Operational Efficiency

Athena Security’s unified entryway platform was designed to support emerging regulatory requirements, including legislation such as California Assembly Bill 2975, which is driving hospitals to adopt more comprehensive security measures.

By combining visitor management and weapons detection into a single system, Athena enables hospitals to:

• Verify visitor identity before entry
• Screen for potential weapons in real time
• Associate screening events with visitor records
• Enable rapid investigation through centralized reporting
• Coordinate responses including alerts and lockdown procedures

This approach helps healthcare organizations strengthen security posture while reducing operational complexity for already strained teams.