Access Control Systems for Hospitals

Hospitals and healthcare facilities are unique when it comes to security. These types of buildings need to be able to control access to certain areas for a variety of reasons. There are sensitive areas that must be restricted to prevent the spreading of contagious diseases, tracking and theft prevention when it comes to babies, equipment, and drugs, and the protection of patients that are left vulnerable. For the most comprehensive access control system for hospitals, you must turn to professionals.

Benefits of Security Systems for Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals must remain open 24/7 which leaves them vulnerable to a wide range of potential threats, everything from unruly patients to theft as drugs are being distributed throughout the facility. Healthcare security systems must be sensitive to capture all these moments that could lead to unfortunate tragedies while protecting the patients, staff, and the reputation of the hospital.

• Access control: Hospitals receive a great number of visitors daily, sensitive areas must be restricted to ensure that no visitor, patient, or staff that should not have access to the room enters at will.
• Monitoring for security purposes: In this type of facility, it is critical to have eyes on all floors and multiple locations at all times.
• Data collection: This will allow the hospital to identify vulnerable areas, collect data that will then allow for more security solutions on a case-by-case basis.
• Improved safety: This will allow the staff, patients, and visitors to feel comfortable and at ease that no harm can come to them.
• Alarms: In these types of buildings alarms are a key component for safety and security ensuring that if there is an unfortunate event that people can safely exit, and the authorities can be alerted henceforth.
• Upgrades: All security systems require updates, and if you have a well-built system, it will be easier and more cost-effective to update it as time goes on.

Advanced Electronic Access Control Solutions for Hospitals

Hospitals heavily rely on stringent security policies because of the different areas present in these healthcare facilities. Access controls have evolved in a great way, from security teams checking name tags to computerized security systems and access control methods that grant certain staff members access to restricted areas. A hospital security system is incomplete without the correct access-control device to protect sensitive areas such as intensive care units, maternity wards, emergency departments, and pharmacies. To adequately secure a healthcare facility, it is essential that the advanced electronic access control system matches the security system section by section since every hospital department has special security requirements, this is an important point to consider when building a hospital security system. Since hospitals are multi-department facilities, with the bigger hospitals even having off-site campus locations, a controlled system is critical to ensure only the right people can enter. These access control systems, however, must allow authorized personnel to move freely from department to department and campus to campus whilst also considering staff and volunteers in the process.

Key Card Entry Systems

Key card readers are a great way to control access to restricted areas and allow staff, patients, and visitors to roam within the confines granted to them with the specific key card. Access key cards are an inexpensive and convenient way to control areas within a hospital. Swipe card access is an invaluable tool for healthcare facilities and is presently commonly used in hospitals worldwide.

Keypad Readers with Passcodes

This type of access control system can be helpful in hospital areas such as break rooms or janitorial storage facilities, however, they pose a severe risk if used in sensitive areas of the hospital. Passcodes can be easily shared and therefore this is not a good solution for a high-risk area that can invite criminal activities such as hospitals wards, pharmaceutical storage cabinets, and any department that mustn’t allow free access to potential threats.

Biometric Access Control

Biometric access control uses iris or fingerprint reading technologies to grant authorized personnel access to highly sensitive areas such as medical research labs, surgery rooms, and storage rooms that house sensitive equipment and supplies. However, an issue can arise during a crisis or an emergency where the person with the security clearance is not there to open the door or is incapacitated.

Combined Security Systems

Combining different access control methods such as a fingerprint biometric reader with a swipe card or password keypad can enhance security, however, this is expensive and time-consuming. It is not widespread because of the complexity of this type of system.

Cloud-based Access Control Systems

Cloud-based access control systems for hospitals can solve an ever-growing and timely problem. Cloud-based off-site access control management can help hospital administrators find the right combination and integrate the appropriate access control solution for each department, wing, or campus of the hospital. With the rise of the internet of things, cloud-based technology is a tool that can serve hospitals and healthcare facilities to enhance, upgrade and maintain the highest level of service for staff, patients, and visitors alike.

In the last few years, with the presence of Covid-19, many hospitals have had to increase security in their facilities and make allowances for temporary employees and volunteers. This issue can be tackled with ease by outsourcing access control and security monitoring off-site to relieve pressure from the security personnel on the ground so that they can focus on dealing with day-to-day issues that may arise.

Conclusion

In this ever-growing technologically advanced world, it is key to find the right access control solution for every situation. Hospitals are an important part of our day-to-day life, and keeping them safe and secure is a priority. For a free consultation contact our access control experts, and we will guide you into the future.