Chances are if you ask any hospital administrator what keeps them up at night, the answers may include keeping their staff, patients, and visitors safe. Hospital security systems play an important role in preventing crimes and cutting investigation and response time if an incident occurs.
Hospital staff are especially vulnerable to threats of violence. According to the U.S, Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare workers account for around 73% of all nonfatal workplace injuries caused by violence. Your team cares for people during acute physical and mental health crises.
Not only that, but hospitals attract potential thieves because of high-value property like medications, equipment, and even patient data. A comprehensive archive of video footage aids any investigation of incidents even if you learn of them after the fact.
Modern healthcare video monitoring isn’t just a few cameras with grainy footage anymore. High definition video with AI-assisted software that is integrated with other systems, like access control systems allow your team to quickly notice if anything goes wrong, respond in real time, or conduct a speedy investigation when necessary.
Strategically placed cameras give a record of activity around entrances, emergency departments, pharmacies, and parking garages in case you need it. When that system is integrated with access control, a forced door alarm or suspicious badge swipe can automatically flag the matching video, so you can see what went wrong and respond in real time
How Video Enables a More Efficient Response to Incidents
Not only are video hospital security systems effective crime deterrents, but they also make it easier to respond to incidents. Hospital surveillance cameras paired with modern technology assist in identifying, responding to, and investigating issues. If something happens, high definition footage lets you get a clear picture of what happened, while AI saves hours of manually scrubbing footage to find it.
Imagine you find the incident and then are able to search your archives for the same person or vehicle license plate to create a more accurate timeline or establish a history. The team can then conduct any in-house investigations or assist local law enforcement.
Not only can these medical facility surveillance systems help your team investigate crimes that already happened, but they can also help de-escalate unfolding situations. AI pattern recognition may call attention to an active incident, and your team can quickly arrive on the scene to provide backup to medical staff, call police, or stop a theft in progress.
Given the human and financial cost of violence toward hospital staff or patients, this video surveillance technology is a solid investment in keeping everyone as safe as possible while also protecting medications, sensitive and private information, and expensive equipment.
Investigating an incident using traditional methods involves so many false turns. Human memory is flawed, people don’t always notice the most relevant details. Sorting through conflicting stories is often frustrating and unproductive.
With high-definition video cameras at all entrances and other key sensitive areas, you have objective, time-stamped evidence to back up human recollections. Constructing accurate timelines becomes less stressful, so you can focus on your people, not just the investigation.
Responding to and Investigating Violent Incidents
No one should have to deal with workplace violence, especially not healthcare workers who devote their life to helping people in times of crisis. Yet, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals face a disproportionate level of workplace violence compared to the public at large.
Responding to these incidents costs hospitals nationwide a staggering $14.65 billion each year in follow-up healthcare for the victims, lost work costs, substitute staffing, repairs, and legal expenses, according to the American Hospital Association.
Robust medical facility surveillance may save money and trauma by empowering security to get involved as the incident unfolds. If that isn’t possible, the video footage is invaluable to law enforcement and insurance agents for any resulting investigations.
Hospital surveillance cameras are among the few tools that simultaneously improve safety, evidence quality, and efficiency.
Deterring and Investigating Theft
Since hospitals maintain a supply of expensive medications, including opioids and other powerful pain medications, they attract thieves who may plan to sell stolen substances on the local drug and black market. The American Hospital Association acknowledges that drug theft in hospitals endangers your patients, staff, and the wider community outside your campus.
Adding effective video surveillance and access control systems supports your hospital’s medication management protocols and also helps in the event of a theft or attempted theft.
In addition to medications, expensive equipment and other resources may also tempt thieves. In the Pittsburgh andTri-State area, police conducting their regular patrol of the area recently stopped and arrested people attempting to steal copper from a hospital, according to CBS Pittsburgh. With the right surveillance and security system, this theft may have been prevented by alerting staff of the presence of unauthorized people. The system also enables the hospital team an easier time collaborating with law enforcement and providing essential evidence.
How Custom Video Surveillance Systems Make Your Life Easier
As a hospital administrator, you juggle a lot. Keeping your team and patients safe while managing liability is much easier with a custom-designed medical facility surveillance system.
2 Krew Security and Surveillance is the leading provider for sophisticated hospital security systems in the Pittsburgh andTri-State area. Contact us to arrange for a free consultation and learn how we can help keep your facility secure.
