High-Definition Cameras for Perimeter Surveillance in Hospitals

The first memory I have of my baby boy is seeing his little purplish squirmy body in the hands of the doctor who delivered him. The second memory I have is seeing the nurse putting a tiny little alarm and ID tag around his tiny little ankle. 

While babies aren’t the only vulnerable patients hospitals care for, they have the distinction of being very easy to steal or even mix up. (After all, it’s not like the baby can tell anyone they aren’t where they should be.) The extra concerns in maternity wards are just a part of the unique set of security challenges hospitals face on a daily basis.

Security solutions like baby ankle alarms might be one of the more memorable measures, but they’re only one small piece of a comprehensive plan hospitals have to employ to ensure a safe, secure environment. Good healthcare facility security consists of multiple components and layers, and that starts before you even set foot in the building. 

The Unique Challenge for Hospital Security

The work hospitals do is necessary, but it creates a logistical nightmare when it comes to security.

Hospitals constantly deal with an influx of new people and situations. They have to protect people in a very weak and vulnerable state, while also allowing visitors to come to see them. They have to safeguard the personal data of thousands of people. They regularly use large quantities of tempting pharmaceuticals and valuable equipment. And they have to do all of this while staying open and accessible 24/7.

While it’s challenging to maintain a secure environment in a hospital, it’s absolutely crucial. Healthcare professionals have a demanding, high-stakes job; they need to be able to focus on caring for their patients instead of worrying about potential threats. Meanwhile, patients—who might very well be at their most vulnerable—definitely don’t need the added stress of worrying if they’re safe.  

Security Starts on the Outside

Given the importance of maintaining an open, welcoming appearance, hospitals can’t exactly erect a barbed wire fence around the perimeter to scare off potential threats. The appearance of open access to healthcare facilities is crucial in fulfilling their role as community caregivers, but this doesn’t mean hospitals are optionless when it comes to securing their perimeters.

Advanced access control systems are a key part of effective hospital security systems, and that should extend to most exterior entrances as well (with the exception of one or two public main entrances). Access control systems protect the building entrances, but with no perimeter fencing, there isn’t much they can do for the parking lot and grounds leading up to the buildings.

Fortunately, that’s just the sort of situation for which mobile security units were built. Mobile security units with high-definition cameras offer four key benefits for hospital perimeter security.

1. Mobile security units are an obvious, visible deterrent.

As much as we would like to believe that people will do the right thing when nobody's watching, people are significantly more likely to make good choices when they know someone else can see them. There isn’t anything subtle about mobile security units with their bulky bodies and towering camera mounts. (Units like the LVT Unit® can even be equipped with flashing lights and law enforcement coloring to drive the point home.) The unit’s visibility and fairly obvious purpose ensure people understand they’re being watched and why, putting everyone on their best behavior.

As an added bonus, the presence of LVT Units have been proven to increase feelings of safety, adding to the secure environment atmosphere that hospitals work hard to maintain.

2. Mobile security units allow for real-time monitoring of large areas.

Remote monitoring capabilities combined with up to three high-definition cameras per LVT Unit allow security personnel to monitor large areas easily. High-definition cameras (combined with different camera types such as bullet cameras, PTZ cameras, and panoramic cameras) can give a clear image of issues as they unfold. This increases situational awareness in the event of an incident and allows security personnel and law enforcement to more effectively handle problems. 

3. Mobile security units can be paired with artificial intelligence to offer proactive insights and alerts. 

Unlike law enforcement where it’s primarily reactive when it comes to incidents, hospital security must be as proactive as possible to prevent major problems. AI tools can offer advanced detection and even analysis, alerting security personnel to potential issues and unusual behaviors before they escalate. License plate reader and facial recognition software take this a step further by allowing for instant identification of involved parties.

4. Mobile security units allow high-definition cameras to be placed anywhere on the grounds.

Thanks to solar panels and cellular internet connections, units like the LVT Unit are able to operate without any dependence on outside utilities. They can be deployed anywhere the sun shines within minutes, and redeployed just as quickly if another location proves to need the unit more. 

Interested in mobile security units to protect your healthcare facility? Contact LVT for more information today.