Protection of people and assets

Hospitals face many serious security issues. Staff members in accident and emergency departments in particular risk abuse and assault. Pharmacies and medication trolleys can be targets for drug abusers. Patients’ personal property can be all too easily stolen. Some vulnerable and confused patients tend to wander away from the safety of their wards. Current technologies offer effective protection against these and other security threats.

At any given time, a hospital or clinic contains many different types of people: patients, healthcare professionals, technicians, administrators, auxiliary staff and visitors. The institution has a duty of care to all of them; they must be free to go about their business without fear of assault or intimidation. In the modern world, their safety cannot be taken for granted.

Equally, every healthcare organisation contains many millions of pounds in assets and personal possessions. Again, the institution has a duty to protect both its own and other people’s property.

Finally, most hospitals look after vulnerable patients. All of these – including babies and children, people with mental illnesses that make them a danger to others – require special care. In particular, they must be prevented from leaving the safety of their wards or rooms.

There is no such thing as total security. However, NextiraOne offers a range of technology solutions that can deter assaults on staff, patients and visitors, provide protection from theft, and prevent the vulnerable from straying from their areas of safety.

Our protection of people and assets solutions

1. Panic buttons can be strategically placed at hot spots around the premises where assaults are most likely to occur (for example, accident and emergency; pharmacy; entry points; remote buildings; low-traffic corridors). These are wired into the network and instantly inform security personnel and nearby colleagues of the location of the alert.
2. Integrated patient terminals that normally deliver entertainment and communications services can be configured to provide patient alarms.
3. High-risk staff can be issued with portable personal alarms that at the touch of a button instantly inform security personnel and nearby colleagues by SMS or automated voice message of the need for urgent assistance. That message includes the location of the incident.
4. Vulnerable patients can be provided with wrist or ankle bracelets that trigger alarms if they leave their safe areas.
5. Video surveillance cameras can be used to protect both people and property.
6. All events can be logged and video surveillance footage stored on secure servers.

The value NextiraOne adds to protection of people and assets solutions

NextiraOne has worked with literally thousands of hospitals and clinics across Europe. Consequently, we have developed a genuine appreciation of the unique challenges and issues that clinicians and administrators face in providing a secure environment. And we are able to tailor solutions that will meet any hospital’s or clinic’s particular needs.

Our expertise

• The provision of expert advice concerning the financial implications of a proposed solution, such as total cost of ownership calculations, and alternative risk management and ownership models, including outsourcing and managed services.
• The design of state-of-the-art solutions.
• The identification of the most appropriate technologies, based on our analysis of the hospital’s needs.
• The customisation, deployment and integration of the selected technologies.
• The provision of a tailored service and support model that will ensure the continuing optimum performance, availability and security of the solution throughout its lifecycle.