Erlanger HospitalErlanger Health System budget committee members voted tonight to outsource the hospital's security department to Chattanooga-based Walden Security, one of the nation's largest security firms.
The full hospital board of trustees will discuss and cast a final vote on the resolution at their monthly board meeting Thursday.
The contract will cost Erlanger $2.3 million annually.
Hospital trustees met privately with members of Erlanger's current security force earlier today to hear their concerns about the change, said spokeswoman Pat Charles. Only one member of Erlanger's security force, Jerry Lawrence, attended the budget meeting tonight.
The move to outsource security has prompted some of Erlanger's security staff to picket outside the hospital every morning for the past week, Lawrence said.
For complete details see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.