Page 72 - Security Today, November/December 2023

CAMPUS ANALYTICS left sleeping or unattended. By doing so, they improve satisfaction and reduce the stress levels of patients and nurses. Departments. Next, let us look at how analytics offer benefits at the depart- mental level. Advanced analytics tools al- low hospitals to monitor and analyze data to identify potential security threats, safety issues, operational inefficiencies, and other undesirable or dangerous situations – and then take measures to address them. Here are some examples of how various depart- ments might use them. MATERNITY WARDS AND NICUS Loitering detection by entrances and ex- its. While infant abductions from hospitals are infrequent, they do occur. Video ana- lytics can detect when people are loitering near entrances or exits, possibly indicating suspicious intentions. Aggression detection. The ability to process harmonics of aggression in the human voice allow for alerting to security staff of potential violence or escalation in sensitive areas. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS LPR for drop offs. License plate recogni- tion (LPR) technology can monitor vehi- cles entering and exiting the Emergency Department. If a car is associated with a known malevolent actor–someone on a watch list–security can respond proactively before a potential security risk becomes an active threat. Speed detection for fast incoming vehicles. The proximity of patient drop-off areas to receiving areas makes speed de- tection important. Analytics alert security when vehicles travel at high speeds near the ED entrance. PHARMACIES Line queuing. Many hospitals offer out- patient pharmacies – allowing prescrip- tions to be filled on-site and creating a fully integrated healthcare experience. By acting on analytics data, pharmacy management can optimize staffing levels, allocate adequate space for safe distanc- ing, and reduce patient wait times. People counting. Crowded spaces can be hazardous, especially when filled with others who are ill. People counting technology can monitor the number of people entering and exiting the pharmacy and help administrators develop policies to prevent overcrowding. Blocked Entrances/Exits: Hospitals can use video analytics to detect if entranc- es or exits to the pharmacy are blocked. Such conditions may indicate a security threat that requires attention. Aggression detection. The availabil- ity of drugs and money behind the counter makes hospital pharmacists vulnerable to security threats. Audio analytics can detect when people speak loudly or aggressively in the pharmacy, alerting security personnel that intervention may be needed. REGISTRATION, SCHEDULING AND COMMON AREAS Fall detection. Hospitals can use video analytics to detect when patients or visitors fall in public areas such as waiting rooms or hallways. Real-time alerts get help to the scene immediately. Plus, bookmarked video clips of such events can help de- fend hospitals against unwarranted li- ability claims. Additional analytics. Like other hospital departments, these areas can benefit from monitoring line queueing, overcrowding and aggression. Automated alerts give hospital administrators a heads- up to immediate problem situations, while aggregated data can spot trends to justify resource allocation for improving the pa- tient and visitor experience. Campuses. The outer layer of a hos- pital is where the patient experience begins and ends. Finding the correct entrance, parking area and parking space is not always easy. Vehicle counting and traffic analytics can assess lot capacity and direct visitors to available parking closest to various en- trances when linked to automated signage. License plate recognition systems (LPR) can make parking more conveni- ent for pre-registered patients or visitors. Vehicles on a pre-approved list may gain access to priority parking or skip payment at the lot’s entry or exit gate. Many emergency towers and inter- com systems can now respond autono- mously to certain conditions. Their inte- grated cameras can identify if a person has fallen and make a call for help. They may issue visual or audio warnings if they detect suspicious behavior and trigger a live connection to a human officer. Parking garages and remote lots, often perceived as dangerous, feel safer with the help of intelligent lighting and VoIP communication systems triggered by human or vehicle motion. If loitering is detected, the system can order trou- blemakers to vacate the parking area and summon officers to the location. Audio analytics can perceive and dif- ferentiate between glass breaking, shout- ing, and other indicators of distress, ag- gression, or violence. They know when a car alarm goes off and where it is. Other ana- lytics identify vehicles going in the wrong direction, parked illegally, or blocking an aisle. Any of these events immediately push live video of the situation to on-site security officers’ phones and computers. Sometimes, they link to integrated apps for coordination with law enforcement and first responders. With increased pressure to provide optimal care for its communities, all eyes are on the patient experience. The public is aware of how nearby facilities rank for attentive nursing care, convenient schedul- ing, general cleanliness, perceived safety, ease of parking, accessibility to visitors, and other factors. Investments in analytics are proving worthwhile as they make hospital operations faster, safer and smarter. When looking to upgrade healthcare campuses with the latest smart solutions, technologies supported by security inte- grators are an intelligent place to start. 28