Safeguarding healthcare heroes

If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything positive, it’s that healthcare workers are true heroes. They work tirelessly to keep us all healthy and safe. But they can only be effective at what they do when they feel safe and secure in their workplace. That means hospitals must think beyond just putting cameras in the parking garage to secure their facilities.

Hospitals can use security cameras and video management software (VMS) as an impactful combination in a network of robust processes and systems that create a reliable and secure surveillance program. So, let’s break down the range of security issues that a hospital can face on a day-to-day basis and see how a VMS like Milestone Systems XProtect® can address them head-on.

Let’s go back to that parking garage camera. Threat detection used to be about a camera streaming live video to security personnel — monitoring every minute of every day. The technology was adequate, but it still relied on some luck. Could a security officer spot an incident at the split second it happened and launch a swift and appropriate response before it was too late? On the other hand, if they take their eyes off the monitors for a few seconds, they could miss an incident completely. 

Today, surveillance is still about monitoring and recording people and places for safety and security. But Milestone Systems’ new technology uses video, audio, two-way communication, and a range of sensors to provide more information and evidence for security personnel. Here are just a few of the types of services that the XProtect open platform VMS can provide hospitals to maximize their security systems:

• License plate recognition helps identify specific vehicles.
• Sound detection identifies screams, broken glass, and other sounds.
• Gunshot detection pinpoints the sound of gunfire to assist first responders.
• Video analytics uses algorithms to evaluate video based on data captured, applying intelligence algorithms to determine behaviors or specific objects detected, including:
  • Line-crossing
  • People counting
  • Identifying objects left behind
  • Slip/fall detection
• Keyword detection alerts staff if someone says a registered phrase, like “help.”
• Intrusion alarms sync with infrared sensors to alert staff if someone enters an unauthorized area.

Milestone offers a broad range of features and applications to help security teams maximize their effectiveness in keeping their facility safe and secure. Not only does XProtect record these events and alert staff, but it also stores this data, helping security staff build evidence and reduce the risk of litigation.

Milestone XProtect solutions can help medical staff monitor multiple patients’ treatment at once while reducing the amount of close interaction in an infected patient’s room. Plus, nursing staff can better care for patients with the help of XProtect and its ability to alert staff if a patient is in distress or falls out of bed.

With Milestone XProtect, your security systems can play an active role in the critical functions of the hospital. Access control systems allow authorized staff to enter restricted areas of the hospital while keeping the space and its assets secure and out of the wrong hands. In addition, with identity management and intrusion systems, XProtect can protect operating rooms, pharmacies, medical supplies, and expensive equipment from unauthorized access.

Here are a few third-party technologies that can integrate with XProtect:

• Intrusion systems keep away unwanted visitors.
• Thermal sensors detect human activity in restricted areas.
• Sound detection (screams, gunshots, breaking glass) monitors building activity.
• Fire and life safety systems integrations detect fire, carbon monoxide, smoke, and more.

Another critical part of a medical facility that Milestone can help protect is reputation and the legal costs to secure it. The Milestone XProtect system can detect and capture vital evidence when incidents or accidents occur. XProtect can provide aggression analytics of unruly patients when paired with sensors detecting elevated voice levels, such as arguments or shouting. It can report sound analytics, flag gunshot detection, and even provide key phrase recognition, so investigators can quickly find the necessary evidence to help a hospital mitigate the risk of legal action or alleged compliance violations.

With the right add-on integrations from Milestone’s technology partners, a hospital can conduct detailed, efficient investigations without wasting time and money sifting through hours or even weeks of video content.

Milestone XProtect and the systems integration from technology partners provide hospitals with more than just a picture on a security monitor. Our open platform video technology helps hospitals do all they can to guarantee the safety of their healthcare heroes. Through our flexible, customized solutions, you can meet your hospital’s needs, whether you’re in an urban setting treating thousands of people every day or a rural area where you know every name and face that enters your doors.

Discover more about XProtect healthcare solutions by talking with our experts. Request a demo with one of our team members and we can offer solutions for your hospital or clinic, no matter the size of your organization.