Page 92 - Security Today, July/August 2022

Health Care Trends
Shaping Security
& Infection Control
Accelerated by the pandemic, health care has changed signifi- cantly over the last few years, in areas including telemedicine, insurance, drug affordability, demand for talent and focus on the patient experience. Health care environments are unique, as they must provide for various conditions and offer healing environments ideal for patients with varying needs. Life safety and cleanliness have elevated and been prioritized significantly more than they were pre-COVID. Beyond PPE and touchless technology, many facilities have implemented technology and safety measures aimed at protecting people and physical assets.
To better understand these trends and how health care facilities have evolved, Allegion conducted a survey with input from 100 decision makers across leading U.S. health systems including Ascension Health, HCA Healthcare, John Hopkins Medicine and Kaiser Permanente. The team conducted a similar survey in 2016, which provides a nice bench- mark for recent developments around electronic access control adop- tion, which was on the rise before 2020. Over the last five years specifi- cally, electronic usage has evolved, and there are more accommodations for patients with disabilities and behavioral health conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at these shifts and where the industry is heading.
A Look at Pandemic Pain Points
The past few years changed how the health care industry operates and will have a long-term impact on design, strategies and processes in place. Facilities had to become adaptable and resilient to keep pace with the influx of patients, new regulations and infection control pro- tocols. A majority of health care professionals cited at least one way that COVID-19 impacted their organization's infrastructure needs and plans. In response, 73% of facilities added extra layers of security, 59% added touchless technology at openings and 62% electrified openings with access control.
Increased Demand for Infection Control
Door hardware played an important role in new infection control pro- tocols by providing touchless access to create healthy environments. Solutions range from hands-free door pulls, often seen in public rest- room entrances in commercial buildings and restaurants, to more technology-driven electronic solutions to monitor and control access.
While infection control has always been a top health care priority, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of new solutions. Almost 90% of facilities are using antimicrobial products to reduce the spread of bacteria. Facilities are also using touchless or hands-free products throughout the building, and 61% report using hands-free or touch- less access products more than before.
This trend extends beyond hospitals—across the security industry, there was increased interest in touchless technology and antimicrobial coatings. High-traffic, public-use access points like entrances, restrooms and conference rooms are typically best suited for these solutions.
The number of facilities using antimicrobial products today is up a significant 170% from the survey conducted in 2016. Electronic access control is also on the rise, and there’s a great demand for the data that comes along with it. More hospitals are capturing data and using it for diagnostic information and gathering details about specific doors, like
Health Care Security
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