What do universities, colleges, and large medical facilities have in common? Expansive campuses comprised of halls, common areas, living spaces, labs, and outdoor areas. While serving vastly different purposes, these institutions share the need to secure both people and property over a sprawling geographic area. Though it may seem like they could have similar security technology needs, in reality, what’s happening on the ground on those campuses varies wildly.
Medical campuses, in particular, have seen more traffic than ever before over the past two years. They’re still seeing an uptick in patients who are now trying to catch up on missed appointments and elective procedures, something colleges don’t face. Higher traffic, in combination with an elevated risk of workplace violence and a persisting labor shortage, has resulted in an acute need for proper security solutions. More so than ever, it’s important to keep employees right where they are—and keep them and the patients they serve safe while maintaining patient privacy in a way that educational institutions don’t have to. Though it sounds like a daunting task, implementing the right security solutions simply requires going back to the basics in order to create a smarter, safer facility overall.
What’s Missing?
Medical facilities are some of the highest-tech campuses out there—so what’s the number one thing they tend to overlook when it comes to their security systems? The answer has less to do with the tech, though that certainly is a part of it, and more to do with the policies and management systems that are (or are not always) in place. A holistic security system begins with a top-down alignment. If the people on top—managing stakeholders, executives, and administrators—aren’t aligned with the necessary steps and resources required to create the safest experience possible, then it’ll never be successfully achieved.
Well-organized healthcare organizations all have one thing in common: they’re led by executives who are educated on what physical security means for both the employee and the patient experience, and they understand that top-tier security is critical for everyone to feel safe. Historically, though, this has been difficult to achieve, as “feeling safe” isn’t exactly a measurable metric. Executive buy-in is largely based on ratings, and, unfortunately, there’s no nationally recognized real rating for security. However, there are quantifiable results when a medical facility is safe and secure, such as patients being happier and receiving better quality of care. Though there may not be many numbers that correlate directly to measuring “safety,” there are certainly benefits to having the right technologies and processes in place to support the core needs of the organization. By “opting in” now and aligning from the top down, healthcare organizations can pave the way for a culture of security that enhances both employee and patient well-being now and in the future.
Solving Problems—Before They’re Problems
Another issue healthcare facilities face is the distance between proactivity and reactivity. Too often, technology or other solutions are introduced in response to some sort of incident rather than preventing the incident from occurring in the first place. Security technology is no exception, and with modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) models available as a part of that technology, the problems these solutions can solve go far beyond just access control and weapons detection. For instance, let’s go back to the labor shortage issue: hospitals are having to make do with the limited staff they have, and can’t afford to schedule resources incorrectly. The intelligent cameras that are running throughout the facility paired with AI models can be applied to that footage to pinpoint low versus peak volume, bed availability, etc. That way, scheduling can be informed by real data, and staff can be where they need to be when they need to be there the most.
This can also apply to more specific situations, like having a staff member who can’t afford to be stuck behind screens and has to be out on the floor at all times. With real-time AI models implemented, staff members can be alerted to issues happening anywhere in the facility the moment they happen. Similarly, with nursing shortages, bedside staff can rely on AI models to cover what they physically can’t. The nurse-to-patient ratio can vary widely from facility to facility, with unfortunate outcomes more likely to occur the more skewed the ratio becomes. With AI models alerting to issues like bed exits, fall risks, or concerning coughing levels and aggression detection nurses gain access to an extra set of eyes and ears and are able to proactively address issues to better serve patients.
Bringing it All Together
To truly take advantage of all of the AI available today, you’ll need powerful technology that provides a comprehensive yet easy-to-navigate layout of all available data so that you can make intelligent decisions across the business. Ultimately, that’s what AI analytics are there to do: gather as much data as possible to enable better business decisions. The key, of course, is focusing on relevant data to make those decisions. If you have technology that’s incapable of picking up necessary video or audio, doesn’t cover the entirety of the facility, or doesn’t have the processing power required to manage all of the data coming in, you’ll miss out on quite a bit. You can have the best AI model in the world, but if it isn’t receiving the right data—and then being relayed to the relevant parties—that AI model is essentially useless.
As healthcare organizations continue to navigate the increased demands and complexities with still-increasing patient traffic and continued labor shortages, putting the right technology in place in combination with the policies to make it work will be essential. By harnessing the power of AI to anticipate and prevent security breaches and patient needs alike, hospitals can not only enhance patient care but also optimize operational efficiency and resource allocation. This proactive stance will not only mitigate potential harm but also foster an important sense of trust and confidence among staff and patients.
By harnessing real-time data and deploying technology that enables intelligent decision-making, organizations of all types can optimize staffing, enhance situational awareness, and mitigate risks effectively in a way that’s tailored to the specific needs of their facilities and the community they serve. When healthcare organizations embrace that holistic approach and accept their unique needs as something to be tailored to instead of ignored, they’re not just navigating the complexities of the modern healthcare landscape – they’re leading the way with confidence and clarity.
About Matt Kjin
Matt Kjin, PSP, CPP, is the current Healthcare Segment Development Manager at Axis Communications, previously spending five years as a regional sales manager at the company.
