Hospital Security News
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to assist hospitals in developing an effective security and risk management program.
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VOLUME II NUMBER I January,
2005
"Hospital
Security News" is SAI’s quarterly newsletter dedicated to helping hospitals
identify and manage their security risks, recognize organizational strengths
and weaknesses in physical protection and improve the personal security of
patients, staff and individuals that use their facilities. This edition features an article parking
lot/deck security..
To receive a free copy of Hospital Security News, please write to: newsletter@saione.com. If you would like to contribute your personal
experiences, please write to Pam Carter, RN,
Parking Security Report
When faced with a large increase in services and outpatient
care which, in turn, brings about a need to expand parking facilities, hospital
administrators should consider calling on a security consulting firm. A well versed hospital security firm will be
able to assist with parking lot / deck lighting and security for the expansion
which is (or should be) an integral part of the hospital's overall security management
program. The security consultant can
help develop a strategy for assuring security of the growing facility during a
rapid expansion, and during normal operations from thereafter. A healthcare facility must have a clear
picture of where they are, and where they need to be with security at the end
of the day. Strategic security planning
is needed to keep crime from occurring not only during the construction phase,
but following completion of the expansion project.
EXAMPLE:
A hospital -- located in the
Piedmont Triad region of
FIRST STEP:
ASSESSING AREAS OF CRIME VULNERABILITY
◘ parking facility lighting, access control and security
◘ security staffing
◘ security duties and
responsibilities
◘ physical security
measures
◘ security response
◘ security patrol
◘ central station monitoring
“A Security Assessment is basically a threat assessment, Aldridge says. “We look at those things that, in our professional opinion, constitute crime and security vulnerabilities. We are often engaged by a hospital to look at everything from the parking lot to the roof, and we review protocols, policies and procedures for adherence to industry benchmark safety standards and best practices. In this particular instance, we were called on to pay particular attention to parking lot/deck security”
SECOND STEP: CHANGES IN THE SECURITY PLAN
Based on the survey's results, a. management plan was implemented at the hospital with some of the following changes to the parking facilities:
-- Raising the average exterior reading to four
foot-candles across campus, with a maximum
of 6.7 foot-candles. The survey
determined that most areas on the campus previously
did not meet the minimum requirement for public areas of two foot-candles. “A
driver entering the parking lot should have a keyhole-to-keyhole illumination
to see inside the car safely and, if necessary, to change a
flat tire,” Aldridge said.
-- Installing an energy-efficient lighting system
throughout all parking areas, replacing the 400-watt
bulbs with 1,000 watt high-pressure sodium lamps. This lighting fixture is equipped
with a vertical lens design to
allow maximum light transmission and is more resistant to dirt and dust accumulation.
--
Installing emergency call boxes throughout the parking facility and remote
parking lots. Call boxes are self-contained emergency
systems that operate on batteries that can last up to four days during power outages. With the push of a button, the call box is activated,
sounding an alarm in the security
operations center. The alarm can also be
heard by security officers over their
two-way radios so that they are able to respond immediately.
--
Converting all CCTV’s from black and white to color systems in all parking lots
/ decks and perimeter areas to provide
clearer pictures of people, objects, and events. Digital images are easy to archive and specific events can be retrieved from
archive more readily than video tape.
--
Maintaining 24-hour security patrols of all parking lots / decks and providing an
escort service to anyone wanting to get either to or from the parking areas at any
time of day.
LOOKING TO THE
FUTURE: MORE MULTILEVEL STRUCTURES
As
land values increase and available land and acreage decreases parking structures
become a cost-efficient alternative to surface lots. New parking facilities built to our
accommodate growth at Nation’s hospitals will most likely be multi-level
structures with 2-5 levels or more.
Regardless of the number of levels, these new high-rise parking lots will
need to employ many of the previously discussed security measures.
Shatter resistant glass-enclosed
stairwells, secure elevators, well-illuminated emergency exit doors, call boxes
and panic buttons in stairwells will also become the norm for hospital parking
decks. When a panic button is depressed,
the security control room immediately receives an alarm signal and a strobe
light is activated indicating that someone needs immediate help. Today’s new technology enables the CCTV
camera that is closest to the call box or panic button that reported the
incident to automatically focus on the area.
A picture will instantly appear on the control room's main monitor, and
an audible or visual alarm will activate.
Sound monitoring can also be employed in elevators and stairwells that will
activate an alarm when sound reaches a particular decibel level.
The benefits derived from an SAI security assessment can help hospitals plan, budget, and produce multi-million dollar improvements and expansions while maintaining security at the very highest levels. According to one client, “If you don't do it (conduct a security assessment), you're shooting yourself in the foot. When you don’t have a plan, you don’t know which way to go." He added that there has been no reported crime in the parking areas since the security upgrades were installed at his hospital five years ago.
On-line resources
Security Solutions Online: Access Control and Security Systems
Litigation Avoidance
Future Newsletter Topics
State-of-the-art
protection for Emergency Departments
Violence
in the workplace
Hospital Lockdown – a coming requirement for hospitals.
Access
control
Hospital Liability “When to hire a Security Expert”
Components of a “Self-Assessment”
Vulnerability Assessments
Getting Ready to Implement HEICS
Educating Employees
and Staff
For further information contact:
Security
Assessments International,
* (919) 384-8299 (Office) * (919)
309-0528 (Fax)
Disclaimer
Advice given in this "Newsletter" is general in nature, and
subscribers (readers of this material) should consult with professional counsel
for specific legal, ethical, or clinical advice.
The
information provided in the SAI Newsletters is for educational purposes
only and should not be considered 'legal' advice. Websites listed
are for reference only and are provided for subscribers (readers of the
material) to have an opportunity to read the original documents in total.
Please consult your legal counsel or Compliance Officer for clarification of
laws and rules related to your State when applicable.
SAI is not affiliated with the Joint
Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
SAI - ©January 2005