Pediatrician attends to a male patient

Successful Strategies

Children's hospital enhances security in commitment to excellence

As South Florida's only licensed specialty pediatric hospital and Florida's only freestanding pediatric trauma center, Miami Children's Hospital serves a special purpose. In addition to world-class healthcare, the hospital is dedicated to providing the highest level of security so families can concentrate on what's most important—leaving with happy and healthy children.

Curing Operational Inefficiencies

Despite providing excellent healthcare, the hospital was in need of centralization. Disparate systems led to operational inefficiencies. For example, each of the 11 departments had its own individual call takers and dispatches. And after completing a voluntary Department of Homeland Security assessment, the hospital decided to implement DHS recommendations by enhancing security through centralization.

The hospital chose to install Johnson Controls' P2000 security management system, an access control solution.

"The hospital conducted interviews and analysis of several candidates and ultimately selected Johnson Controls as the best fit for their needs," said Richard Seferian, account executive of major projects for Johnson Controls. "Johnson Controls was able to demonstrate their ability to consult and use their vast technical abilities to bring solutions and drive the end result to achieve the hospital's vision."

The P2000 is a security management system designed for mission-critical access control environments. With an enhanced graphical user interface, system operators can easily access an interactive, realtime facility map, with dynamic icons, to monitor and control major facility systems and functions.

"The P2000 was chosen primarily for its ability to connect to the CCTV security cameras, fire alarm and building management system," Seferian said. "The technology behind the solution was the use of IP-enabled systems and serial communication for the legacy equipment."

Features such as threat level support allow operators to adjust security functions based on threat level parameters. In the event of an elevated security threat, reader acceptance levels can be changed from card only to card plus PIN or card plus PIN plus biometrics, and CCTV cameras and guard tours can be modified to refl ect heightened security requirements.

As security needs change, the P2000 can easily help administrators add badges, readers and workstations.

Another hospital security enhancement included the addition of Johnson Control's DVN 500 system, along with Matrix System IP-based cameras, which allows security to view, analyze and archive video from programmed intrusion points.

The DVN is a hybrid surveillance system that allows users to record images from both analog CCTV and IP-based cameras. It provides quick access to all video from the command center to Web browsers, as well as PDAs. The DVN also can monitor camera images through advanced video analytics, which can be configured to detect simple or complex motion and alert staff to potential problems.

The hospital also migrated from basic magneticstripe access cards to HID Global's iCLASS secure contactless smart cards and readers, including iCLASS R40 readers and iCLASS 2k cards.

iCLASS 13.56 MHz read/write contactless smart cards offer enhanced security through encryption and mutual authentication and provides versatile interoperability. The technology supports multiple applications such as biometric authentication, cashless vending and PC log-on security.

Achieving Centralization

A newly built central operations center housed in the hospital's new central energy plant now provides centralized access to the integrated systems. Serving as the hospital's communications hub, all 11 departmental dispatch stations and call centers are routed through the center, centralizing calls for patient transport, environmental and hospitality services, and plant operations.

"The centralization of the monitoring and dispatch system resulted in a common call center, which provides faster and more reliable responses to callers and facility issues," Seferian said. "The centralization of these systems fosters information exchange across the staff and increases quality for the caregivers, patients and their families."

"The ability to centralize our services, including security operations, helped us decrease our operating costs, while improving our patient care and overall hospital service," said Robert Nowlan, vice president of clinical support services for Miami Children's Hospital.

On the Case

Since the deployment of the new security upgrades, the hospital has reported decreased car theft rates, though recently, the hospital experienced two smashand- grab incidents in the patient drop-off area.

"While mothers were bringing their children into the hospital, their purses were stolen through smashed car windows," Nowlan said. "In each case, the incidents were caught on camera, and we are working with local law enforcement to investigate those crimes. In the end, Johnson Controls has helped us become more operationally efficient and accountable, which is something we've been working toward."

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • Midtown Manhattan Shooting Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer

    Four people were killed, including a NYPD officer, in a midtown Manhattan shooting on Monday. That’s according to CNN. Read Now

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.