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."