Security solutions for healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities face many challenges. It is a balancing act between ensuring patients' safety and privacy while maintaining the facility a welcoming and smoothly functioning space. Another critical concern for healthcare facilities is restricting access to prescription drugs and handling of confidential patient data. Adequately addressing these security needs requires outstanding capabilities, reaching far beyond what the traditional mechanical security solutions may offer. Another top priority for healthcare facilities is providing its visitors and patients with a sense of security while ensuring the facility's staff have real-time control, enabling a swift response should the need arise. The security solutions provided by the traditional mechanical keys can be greatly enhanced by incorporating a comprehensive wireless access control system to address such a wide range of security needs. 

The wireless way for better access control

Any mechanical based access system will be upgraded by installing wireless devices, adding electronic control throughout the facility. Such upgrade is the easiest and budget-friendly improvement. Credentials such as RFID smartcards, programmable mobile keys stored on a mobile device replace cumbersome physical metal keys.

By combining an electromechanical locking system with a high-security mechanical platform, users benefit from advanced flexible management of access rights and schedules for keys, doors, and users as well as high security, all without compromising on user experience.

With online electronic locking systems, the security staff have easy online access to the premises at any given time, with the ability to monitor not only the whereabouts of staff and patients but even the status of medicine cupboards or server racks from the same administration software interface.

Modular, scalable access control system

SMARTair Wireless Online electronic access control system was the answer to the many challenges faced by the managers of MAZ Hospital in Zaragoza, Spain, who were not getting the security they needed by using traditional mechanical key systems and decided to bring their facility's safety into the 21^st century by integrating the SMARTair system. One of the key challenges for the facility's managers was providing hundreds of employees with individual, dynamic access permissions. 

The SMARTair system is a unified access system, controlled by intuitive software, installed at the central server and managed via client servers in different departments, giving the managers instant updates on everything happening at the facility. Because the SMARTair Wireless Online system updates via communications hubs in real-time, security managers implement all changes via the central system, without needing to waste time walking through the facility, reprogramming rights one door at a time.

Consequently, employee convenience is greatly enhanced by carrying a single MIFARE^® smart card programmed with individual access permissions. Cards are personalized to double as employee IDs, so 625 staff and 100 contractors only need to carry a single card. "We have achieved all our objectives with the installation of the system,” says Miguel Angel Hernández Jerez at Hospital MAZ.

Intelligent keys

Programmable electronic key systems are making access control more flexible and easier to manage, reinventing the traditional key for the demands of the 21^st century.   

With electronic locking system in place, dealing with keys is no longer a challenge. Access to new employees can be granted and withdrawn from former employees with a click of a button, saving time and precious resources.  

CLIQ electromechanical locking system offers remote key management and on-demand audit trails for locks and padlocks. These features are a clear advantage for any healthcare facility seeking to keep its sensitive patient data and access to prescription drugs safe.

CLIQ provides easy-to-use access control utilizing encrypted electronic locking and identification combined with high-security mechanical cylinders. A CLIQ key contains a standard battery that supplies power to the lock, so it does not require wires - which makes it an ideal retrofit option for doors, cabinets, and mobile drug trolleys. A single programmable CLIQ key is carried by each employee to open any CLIQ lock. The CLIQ device will not unlock until the key is authorized by the software.

As UK's Queen Elizabeth Hospital discovered, an old mechanical system made it very difficult to stay on top of access control. The Hospital chose a secure and convenient way to control access to its pharmacy by installing CLIQ electromechanical locking system, streamlining daily processes such as dispensing medication to the Hospital's patients.

“The message from all nursing staff is that patients are getting medicines much easier and in a more timely fashion,” says Inderjit Singh, Chief Pharmacist at QE Birmingham. “For us, the key return on investment is the quality of service we’re providing.”

Effective, secure, keyless indoor security – no software needed

Door control in a busy medical facility, however small, is always a top priority. Accidentally leaving a medical facility door unlocked, may lead to all kinds of unwanted consequences. With expensive equipment and pharmaceutical drugs stored inside, the highest measures to prevent unwanted access must be taken.

Many medical facilities opt for the Code Handle electronic PIN lock, which fits over an existing cylinder. By swapping the existing handle for a low-profile Code Handle and fixing it in place with two screws you gain immediate, PIN protected security to any storage room or equipment cupboard, whilst adding an aesthetically pleasing element to the facility's interior.

One of the medical facilities that adopted the Code Handle is FYLAB, located in Spain’s Basque Country. FYLAB requested a secure device that is easy to retrofit with a design that fits Fylab’s modern medical workplace.

Code Handle provided the much needed security to three consulting-room doors — no wires or cables. Fylab founder, Borja Saldias Retegui had this to say: “I am no artist or handyman, but I managed to fit the handles within 10 minutes”. He added that the “Code Handle provides the most simple solution for access control in a small facility”. Fylab's Code Handle devices are used to lock both wooden and glass doors, securing equipment and personal belongings.