Emergencies

An "emergency" is defined as any extraordinary event that endangers the Institute's community or operations. An emergency is often unexpected and sometimes tragic. An emergency may also generate community or media interest in the Institute.

An emergency may include, but is not limited to, the following situations. The conditions may present an actual, perceived, or potential threat to the Institute's students, faculty, staff, tenants, visitors, facilities or systems.

  • Accidents involving students, faculty or staff
  • Bomb threats
  • Charlestown or Navy Yard incident requiring mutual aid from the Institute
  • Environmental or natural disasters - fires, earthquakes, floods, chemical spills or leaks, explosions etc
  • Severe weather incidents
  • Medical emergency
  • MGH/Partners incident requiring the Institute to play a supporting role
  • Political situations - riots, demonstrations, national security alerts, terrorism, etc.
  • Violent crime or behavior - robbery, murder, suicide, personal injury (existing or potential), etc.

 

The MGH Institute has established an Emergency Preparedness Team and a plan to prepare and respond to emergencies or foreseeable or unforeseeable incidents. We recognize that no institution is invulnerable to crisis situations, and accordingly, we evaluate our plan on an ongoing basis to maintain a process that is as responsive as possible to safety threats and other risks.

Campus Security

Call our security team (617) 726-5400 – For All Emergencies (24 Hours) - Do not call 911. Persons needing to contact students in an emergency should call the MGH Security Office.

MGH Institute Logo on stone

For non emergencies call security at the main desk in the lobby of the Catherine Filene Shouse Building.

  • (617) 726-0528

Emergency Notices

Connect-Ed sends out announcements by email and phone for students, faculty, and staff when there are shelter in place announcements, school closings for inclement weather, or other emergencies.

You sign up for Connect-Ed emergency notices through IOnline.

All students, faculty (including term lecturers) and staff are given IOnline accounts when you first join the Institute.

Your MGH Institute email address is already listed but you can list another email address as well, and your home phone and cell phone for voice and text messages. Please ensure your emergency contact information is up-to-date in IOnline. Accurate contact information is vital in the event of an actual emergency, such as "Code Silver" active shooter incidents.

You can recover your IOnline username and password from the upper right corner of the IOnline hompage, on the landing page for Help Desk Tickets.

School Closing Announcements for Inclement Weather

For 24/7 recorded information, call the "School Closing Information Line" at (617) 724-8484.

Connect-Ed announcements will also be made to faculty, staff, and students. This is the official Institute communication method for school closings. Connect-Ed sends out announcements by email and phone for students, faculty and staff. To add or update email/phone information, go to IOnline to the Address Change screen.

In the event of inclement weather (or other events) that necessitates MGH Institute to close or cancel classes, announcements will also be broadcast on the following Boston stations:

These stations will both broadcast and post-school closings on their respective websites.

WHDH-TV, Channel 7 will only post closings on their website.

Register online to receive automatic cell phone text or email alerts with WCVB-TV, Channel 5, or WHDH-TV, Channel 7 .

Medical Assistance Protocol

All calls for Medical Assistance (617-726-5400) are received through the Navy Yard MGH Police and Security Dispatch.

The dispatcher will collect all pertinent information regarding the medical issue: Type of assistance needed (victim's condition), location, victim’s name, caller’s name, etc.

What happens next?

  • Dispatcher notifies all units via radio and 911 as necessary. Officers will respond with the department’s First Responder Kit, which includes an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and oxygen. Officers will assess the victim, continually communicating information to dispatcher. Additionally the responding patrol officer will stand by outside the respective building to wait for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and to escort them to the scene.
  • An MGH officer will remain with the victim to administer First Aid as needed.
  • MGH officer is in charge of the victim until relieved by EMS or another resource with superior skill set, and will remain in charge of scene safety.
  • All MGH officers are First Responders and/or Emergency Medical technician (EMT) Level.
  • If you are certified in CPR, First Responder or higher medical license, let the on scene officer know and offer your help.
  • You can be helpful by allowing the first responders to work unobtrusively and helping keep on-lookers at a distance from the scene.

Safety and Security

The Institute's Annual Security Report (2023-2024) is a guide to MGH institute of Health Professions and MGH policies and programs concerning:

  • Campus safety
  • Sensitive crimes
  • Drug-free campus and workplace programs

The report and crime statistics are provided to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f) (Cleary Act). The MGH Institute prepares this report in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Police, Security and Outside Services, and Mass General Brigham System Office of General Counsel.

It covers information on the Charlestown Navy Yard campus. The Institute is located within the Charlestown Navy Yard campus. Specific information unique to the Institute is also provided within this report.

Applicants, students, faculty, and staff are provided access to this Annual Report via the attached PDF. Hard copies of this report are available upon request, and are also located in the Office of Student Affairs, Office of Human Resources, Office of Facilities and the security desks at the Catherine Filene Shouse Building (Bldg 36) and 2CW.

Prior Year Reports

In keeping with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, MGH Police and Security maintains a daily crime log that records criminal incidents by the date reported. The log includes nature of the crime, date and time the crime occurred, general location of the crime and the disposition of the complaint, if known. The log can be viewed at the following locations during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.:

Massachusetts General Hospital

MGH Police, Security and Outside Services

  • Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 149 13th Street, Boston, MA
  • WAC 2 – Room 232, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA
  • Charlestown Navy Yard, 36 1st Avenue, Boston, MA

We are committed to providing a safe learning and work environment and information on available resources for students and employees should the need arise.

If you have any questions or comments about the information provided please contact any of the following: Office of Student and Alumni Services, Campus Services, Human Resources or the Security Officer on duty in the lobby of the Catherine Filene Shouse Building.

Learn more about the Clery Act.

The Student-Right-to-Know and section 485 of the Higher Education Act 1965, as amended, requires each institution receiving student aid assistance to prepare and distribute an annual report which sets forth its policies on crime prevention issues and gives statistics on a number of specific crimes.

In addition to publishing crime statistics, the act requires the Institute to provide timely warnings to the campus community of certain crimes reported to the MGH Police or local law enforcement which may be considered a threat to other students and employees.

Students and employees who will be on campus need to obtain a photo identification badge that must be worn at all times when on MGH and Institute premises.

ID badges are the property of MGH Police and Security. It is against regulations to share or give away an ID badge for any reason. MGH IHP ID badges are for use by an employee or student only. Non-compliance will result in a direct consequence/penalty.

Badges are issued at the Office of Police and Security on the first floor of Building 149 in the Charlestown Navy Yard. 

The identification badge also serves as your building access key and as a disaster pass in case of public emergency.

Loss of ID Badge: Contact MGH Police & Security and they will deactivate it after 24 hours. There is a cost for replacement ID badges.

MGH Police & Security check bike rack areas throughout the day. If a bike if found unsecured, security will secure it until the owner returns to the area. All bike areas are monitored via video cameras.

Bicycles are considered abandoned when they are locked onto facilities on the IHP campus in damaged, inoperable, and/or vandalized condition. If a bike is abandoned and has been registered with the IHP, an attempt to contact the owner will be made. After an extended period in which the abandoned bike is not retrieved by the owner, it will be disposed of.

For stolen or vandalized bicycles, please immediately contact MGH Police & Security to file an incident report. This information is shared with the Boston Police Department in case property is recovered. If you see suspicious activity, please contact a.

In order to maximize the security of bikes, bike lights, seats, and pumps, please follow Security’s suggestions:

Register Your Bike

The IHP has partnered with Bike Index, one of the largest bicycle registration and theft-recovery sites in the country. Students and employees biking to campus are strongly suggested to register their bike for free. Enter your bike’s information and serial number along with a photo of your bike. Most bike serial numbers are engraved beneath their bottom bracket. Registration helps provide proof of ownership and assists with the return of your bike if it is recovered.

The MGH Institute of Health Professions Community and tenants of the Shouse Building participate in the A.L.E.R.T. Program - "Partners in Prevention", a program through the MGH Police and Security Department. The A.L.E.R.T. Program identifies vulnerable items or areas that are susceptible to theft. Stickers are placed on all items or doors found unattended or unsecured as a reminder to lock up and secure items of value. Unattended items of value will be removed for safety and held by MGH Police and Security, in the lobby, until retrieved by the owner. Please read the sticker for specific information. Students are encourage to not leave valuables unattended in any area.

Escort service is available to Building 199 (parking garage), 2CC and Building 149 for students leaving the Institute at night. The MGH Police, Security and Outside Services of the Charlestown Navy Yard will respond to a request for an escort called into the lobby desk 617-726-0528. However, there may be a time delay due to the ability of the Police and Security Officer to respond immediately. Please call in advance. Escort services are not provided to North Station, MGH Main Campus or outside the Charlestown Navy Yard except where stated above. Please visit the security desk in the Shouse Bldg for a wide choice of informational pamphlets on Parking Lot Safety, Internet Safety, Domestic Violence, Travel Safety and more.

The I.C.A.R.E campaign encompasses planning and training to facilitate calm, quick and thorough responses should an emergency arise and promotes personal responsibility in emergency and crisis situations. The Emergency Preparedness Planning Team has developed a comprehensive Emergency Plan that will enable the Institute community to react effectively and quickly in the event of an emergency.