SAYRE, P.A. (WENY) -- Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital welcomed a new member to its security team to help ensure patient and staff safety -- and he's already making quite the impression.

Guthrie wanted to help keep their patients and staff safe in their facilities, they're hopeful that with the addition of K-9 Echo, a greater sense of peace-of-mind can be achieved by all of the hospital's users and workers.

Staff at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital were eager to get a peek at their newest coworker this morning. Echo is a one year old German Shepherd who underwent special training in Western Pennsylvania before assuming this role along with his handler Jennifer Vaughn, who serves as a security officer at Guthrie.

"I came in on February 19th, and went away to school to train myself and Echo as a handler and a team. In five weeks, we just got back. We've been here about a week just getting to know the hospital, and getting to know the caregivers. It's been a fantastic experience," remarked Vaughn.

The decision to bring in a security K-9 came from concerns of workplace safety for the hospital's caregivers. Data from the American College of Surgeons and Bureau of Labor Statistics shows healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other industries.

"Because we are so very rural, law enforcement is not always available just like that and the folks that are working in the emergency room and some of the other medical situations here have to react to something very quickly. They now have a partner, Echo, who can help them handle that situation when that law enforcement officer may not be able to be right here," added Pennsylvania State Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford County). 

Echo was brought in thanks to a partnership with the Respect and Heal Campaign, an initiative geared towards maintaining safe spaces within hospitals and clinical facilities. Guthrie leadership said they are confident in Echo, and eager to keep track of his progress.

"Programs require a lift to get off the ground, and with this one specifically, required a lot of different collaboration partnerships, so we're very thankful for the support from the organization, not just from the executive leadership team getting behind a program like this, but also other departments that we need to collaborate with," stated Andrew Dunnick, Sr. Director of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness.

A survey of the American College of Emergency Physicians found that 85 percent of its members believed that there had been a general increase in violent assaults since 2019. The presence of Echo within Guthrie hopes to provide a sense of calm and security to all who pass through its doors.