Facility operations
Other aspects of facility operations can also be addressed simultaneously with security.
Aesthetics
In the drive to improve patient outcomes, many healthcare facilities feature pleasing designs that create a relaxing atmosphere. Decorative doors and hardware deliver security without sacrificing design.
Resiliency
Geography determines whether or not specialized door openings are needed to protect against hurricanes or tornados. Door opening assemblies tested to withstand destructive storms will help a healthcare organization continue normal operations once the danger has passed.
Sustainability
Hardwired locks that draw low power consumption and insulated doorways that block heat transfer and air leakage improve the energy efficiency of a facility and help meet sustainability goals. Any transparency statements tied to these products will verify their contents and ensure they are free of harmful chemicals.
Sound attenuation
Peace and quiet are hallmarks of a restorative environment. Having Sound Transmission Class (STC)-rated doorways on patient rooms blocks out the noises accompanying the hustle and bustle of a hospital hallway.
Loss prevention
Pharmaceutical distribution, storage cabinets, employee lockers, and server cabinets containing sensitive data are prone to theft. These small ‘doorways,’ typically on cabinets, can be protected with a new generation of cabinet locks that connect wirelessly with the building security control system. The locks communicate with a nearby hub that relays signals back and forth with the central system. Therefore, these often-overlooked doorways, even when found on a portable cart, are now incorporated as another layer of security that can be monitored and tracked.
Conclusion
With the wide range of locking technologies now available, it is easier than ever to tailor the access control capabilities of each opening to match its exact security needs. Hospitals can implement varying degrees of access control at each opening whether it is a loading dock on the building perimeter or a cabinet door in a patient room and everything in between. The locking technologies employed at each opening mesh together and operate seamlessly with the building control system to create a fully secure facility.
Successfully layering security in this manner requires input from all stake-holders to identify risks, applicable codes, and regulations that need to be met, alongside sustainability goals, aesthetic preferences, and budgetary concerns. When the needs of each stakeholder are mapped out vertically, security solutions can then be layered horizontally to achieve the desired goals and deliver the best possible outcome.
Marilyn A. Collins, EDAC, is director of business development for healthcare with Assa Abloy Door Security Solutions. She is certified in evidence-based design in life safety, security, and access control for door openings. Collins is versed in the tenets of The Joint Commission and GreenGuard, and is active in a number of industry groups including Healthcare Executives, Buildings VIP, The Center for Health Design, FierceHealthcare, Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), and the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI). She can be contacted via e-mail at marylina.collins@assaabloy.com.
