Prepared for the Worst
New York hospital replaces analog system with IP surveillance equipment
- By Ralph Jensen
- Oct 01, 2009
All hospitals, regardless of specialties or locations, share the same
worries when it comes to security. Their mission is to ensure the
safety, well being and security of patients and employees. Security
is paramount.
In upstate New York, one hospital converted its analog CCTV
system to a state-of-the-art IP surveillance system. Hospital officials
chose a solution that included Sony PTZ dome cameras
and Axis video servers and is managed by Milestone XProtect
Enterprise IP video surveillance software. More recently, hospital
officials have added Panasonic cameras to the system.
The security solution watches over an active psychiatric ward,
an alcohol and drug detoxification unit; a busy emergency room;
a maternity ward; an operating room; onsite pharmacy, cardiac
and urology departments; a cancer treatment center; the hospital’s
fleet of vehicles and a heliport.
With IP surveillance, hospital security can target vandalism,
disruptive and violent behavior, the threat of abductions, and the
theft of drugs or expensive medical equipment.
“A hospital is like a community unto itself,” said the hospital’s
chief of security, who asked to remain unidentified. “The security
challenges are complex, with many different kinds of patient care
going on, and all of it occurring 24 hours a day. The multiple
buildings and locations only add to the tough requirements.”
On one hand, the hospital is a public facility that needs to be
accessible to the community; but on the other, it needs to be a
controlled and secure environment that is committed to ensuring
the safety of patients and employees.
The IT architecture brought numerous advantages to the hospital
upgrade, including providing the hospital with a system that
is flexible, scalable and compatible. It also provided efficient reuse
of existing technology while introducing the IP platform, an
element that is sure to serve them well into the future.
The hospital recognized a crucial need to upgrade to a surveillance
system that best fit their security needs, with patient and employee
safety in mind. IP video surveillance cameras and support
equipment optimized the performance on any hardware setup by
changing resolution, frames per second, number of days images
are archived and increased the speed to search for evidence.
One of the most vulnerable branches of a hospital is the
maternity ward. Security is vital here because the majority of
infant abductions stem from hospitals.
Access card readers should be used to track anyone leaving or
entering that unit. Security officials also should implement surveillance
video to capture the faces of anyone passing through
the area.
In obstetrics and maternity, new industry standards have
come about because of publicized kidnapping incidents in hospitals.
In this environment, IP video surveillance is a must to
monitor every area of egress, both for the safety of each patient
and for the viability of the hospital. A child abduction can actually
shut down a hospital.
“Our IT people had some concerns about broadband issues,
but they were reassured after receiving a demonstration of the IP
solution’s capability with the architecture that exists today,” the
chief said. “The IP network solution also provides the ability to
expand the system easily.
“Power over Ethernet eliminates the need for power lines so
the hospital is set up for future growth and ready for any changes
that may come.”
The safe keeping of valuable equipment was another motivating
factor for the upgrade. Hospital officials felt Sony, Panasonic,
Axis and Milestone equipment would work together best by
bringing about the advantage of compatible equipment and the
IT architecture.
It is possible to prepare for the worst by implementing the
best equipment available and through routine testing and training.
The hospital staff hopes nothing awful will happen, but if it
should, they are prepared to act swiftly.
Broadband concerns were easily put to rest as the IP network
solution provides the ability to expand the system with ease.
Although the hospital officials were reluctant to release the
facility’s name, they are quick to provide the perfect prescription
for security.
This article originally appeared in the October 2009 issue of Network-Centric Security.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is editor-in-chief of Security Products magazine.