Health Solution

Hospitals, with their potentially very large number of cardholders, unique facilities and equipment, and situations involving the safety and lives of people, present a demanding system environment in terms of controlling access.

A hospital is about healing, and saving lives. Hospital security has to be subtle, unobtrusive and non-invasive – giving staff, patients, and visitors a comfortable feeling of safety. Although requirements demand security to be comprehensive, it must be integrated into the environment very discretely.

Hospitals are open every day 24/7 to many individuals and groups who are involved on Hospital business and who therefore have a legitimate need for access to rooms and buildings. However, the Hospital must also look to the security of its installations and assets, and seek to minimise opportunities for theft and damage to its property or harm to its patients and staff. Electronic access offers both physical security and freedom of movement for authorized cardholders as well as an assurance of personal safety.

Within a hospital, emotions run high - maternity and intensive care units in particular are risk areas. Security in hospitals often receives media attention with several high profile cases involving the abduction of newborns from maternity wards. Staff protection, especially in these areas, is another consideration for Hospital Security.

Protecting patients and staff against unauthorised people is a key factor for hospitals, and can include; providing duress alarm points, linking CCTV/DVR monitoring to access control and alarm points to provide a visual record associated with a duress alarm point, restricting public access to specific areas (specific wards and laboratories), and managing access cards in a real-time manner.

The Emergency Department is a demanding environment. The Crash Team, for example, needs to be given card reader override in an emergency. Urgent access to lifts, with overrides catering for urgent access to lifts in a medical emergency ensures the lift is sent straight to the required floor.

A high level of security is required for areas such as Operating Theatres, to prevent entry by unauthorized individuals. As with emergencies, it is critical the security system will remain operating as access to certain areas within a hospital can never be in jeopardy – even when network problems occur.

Medicines / drugs must only be accessible by designated hospital staff. It is ideal for nurses to only be able to access the medicines for their ward. Full audit trail is also important.