Healthcare administrators face increasingly difficult challenges—in addition to providing accessible, safe and functional facilities for patients, staff, physicians and visitors, they must optimize patient experiences. The patient experience is at the top of a hospital’s priority list because compensation, reimbursement and quality outcomes are linked to patient feedback.

When faced with health issues, many aspects of a patient’s life can feel out of control. The little things provide patients with control over their environments like locking cabinets to protect personal belongings during treatment. Patients also want to be treated in a comfortable, pleasant environment. They prefer a home like setting, one that feels familiar such as a hospital room with hotel-like qualities or a chemotherapy treatment room that is comfortable.

On any given day, a lot can happen within the hospital making it increasingly stressful to manage security. Staff, patients, and families want assurances that security is properly managed. Genetec’s unified security solution enhances the clinical and patient experience. On any given day, a lot can happen within the hospital making it increasingly stressful to manage security.

With the right investment in technology, healthcare centers can empower their teams to be faster and more effective at protecting everyone, while keeping operations running smoothly. A unified and open security platform helps to handle it all. From video and access control systems to nurse call stations and parking solutions, security can manage every system from a single interface.

A unified interface boosts efficiency. No matter what comes up during the day. The system stays effective at locating lost patients, safeguarding medical equipment and drugs, managing building access for employees and volunteers, while ensuring your healthcare center is compliant and running well. Over time, this flexible platform allows security to re-evaluate processes and make changes so they can use existing hardware and rollout new devices and systems when needed. As regulations and organizations evolve, an open and unified platform help maintain compliance and keep everyone safe.

A unified and open security platform creates very little disruption to operations and allows for flexible budgeting and spending. Here are recommendations for optimal results:

Unify access control with real-time video monitoring

Automated technology solutions that enhance operational efficiencies can help to reduce costs in various areas, including staffing. Automated technology solutions that enhance operational efficiencies can help to reduce costs in various areas, including staffing. With solutions such as integrated site security and situational awareness management, healthcare institutions can protect their people and assets while saving money and improving safety and emergency responses in their facilities.

Utilize identity-based access control for greater security

Unified access control and real-time video monitoring solutions protect patients, employees, and visitors and safeguard expensive medical assets, supplies, medications and controlled substances. Furthermore, they:

  • Prevent unauthorized access to computers, files, and sensitive information to avoid data breaches and protect patient privacy.
  • Monitor parking lots, loading docks, delivery doors, medication storage areas and other locations which may be vulnerable to individuals with      criminal intentions.
  • Keep patients safe by monitoring patient hallways and other sensitive patient areas.
  • Protect the security system itself—an important yet often overlooked vulnerability.

Increase efficiency with automated technology

Through a “single pane of glass,” every facet of safety and security can be deeply unified within a single platform achieving an all-compassing view of security from physical access openings to video feeds, intercoms and third-party systems. This unified solution is flexible, scalable, and cost-effective—and more importantly, it empowers security operators to become more effective in their roles.

Leverage existing IT infrastructure

When door or lock upgrades are needed, or an expansion of the physical access system is required, intelligent solutions permit work to proceed without disruption to clinical treatments or other operations. By leveraging a facility’s existing IT infrastructure, the costs and complexity to upgrade access solutions are significantly reduced. Notably:

  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Wi-Fi IP-enabled access control solutions take advantage of a facility’s network infrastructure (whether it’s wired or wireless) to provide advanced security and easier, more cost-effective installations.
  • Smart phones have become the control centers of our lives – and with Bluetooth smart-enabled locks, they can now unlock our doors. Mobile IDs enable seamless patient experiences and uninterrupted clinical workflows for clinicians.

Key benefits of a unified security platform for healthcare facilities

  • Flexible. Confidently scale hundreds of devices or expand operations to new centers. Start with video surveillance and integrate new security
    and healthcare systems to meet evolving compliance requirements.

  • Private. Use built-in video redaction capabilities to blur out faces of patients or visitors in video frames. Easily monitor, conduct investigations or share video while ensuring the highest levels of individual privacy.

  • Control. Add access control readers to medical cabinets to secure narcotics, or to front-line workstations to protect patient records. Patients wristbands
    can also include radio frequency identification chips which can track in real-time.

  • Efficient. Pre-program alarms and determine a response strategy  in advance. For example, if a patient goes missing, selecting an active threat level trigger a response that guides the team through the right steps so they can quickly make decisions that lead to a resolution.

  • Monitor. Build one or many command centers to access systems from any location. Empower doctors and nurses by giving them restricted access to the video system so they can then monitor patients who may require immediate care or show violent behavior.

  • Automate. Use security system to automate processes and reduce staffing. Track emergency room visitors during specific times using people counting analytics, improve nurse schedules, and ensure clean rooms stay contaminant-free without requiring a full-time guard.

A global leader in systems integration

Convergint, partnered with Genetec, has the expertise needed to deploy an integrated security system to keep healthcare facilities operating smoothly and safely. Contact a security expert today to roadmap your security infrastructure.