Hospital Evidence Lockers

Keeping forensic evidence organized and secure near the ER.

September 11th, 2017 - less than a minute read

The Chain of Custody in Healthcare Facilities

The term “chain of custody” refers to the detailed documentation of evidence collection and handling. Maintaining a secure chain of custody is of vital importance because an investigation can be disrupted by questions about the integrity of evidence. That’s why, when crime presents itself at emergency rooms or other healthcare facilities, staff must be ready and able to collect evidence, document it, and store it – and that’s where hospital evidence lockers come in.

Hospital Evidence Storage Lockers

While some evidence is collected by officers that accompany victims or perpetrators of crimes to the hospital, other items must be held until law enforcement can take direct possession when called upon to investigate an offense. When caring for sexual assault victims, hospital staff uses state-supplied kits to collect and secure evidence for storage and analysis. Spacesaver’s versatile Evidence Lockers allow medical professionals to place fluid samples in refrigerated compartments, and dry materials including swabs, narcotics, weapons, and clothing in their collected state – preserving the chain of custody.

One main concern for hospitals is the ability for their pharmacy to ensure the right diagnosis is paired with the right medicine and distribution method for their patients. Previously, this would require a pharmacist to be on-site 24/7 to oversee and approve the process. In this example, Spacesaver paired its ControLoc Technology® with its Evidence Lockers to reduce cost and increase accountability by allowing pharmacists to assess and allocate necessary medicines for distribution by staff while they are off the clock.