Keeping the Campus Healthy

Keeping the Campus Healthy

Baptist hospitals provide healing with strong security

Keeping the campus healthyWith employees and physicians totaling more than 6,000, Baptist Health Care Network is the largest, non-governmental employer in northwest Florida. As the largest healthcare facility within this network, Baptist Hospital, in Pensacola, Fla., is a community-owned, not-for-profit healthcare organization committed to improving quality of life for people in the Florida panhandle areas.

Baptist Hospital is a 492-bed, tertiary care hospital with a full range of emergency, medical, surgical and obstetrical services. During recent years, the hospital has expanded its services on a medical campus that includes several buildings, a variety of medical specialty capabilities and critical care units including coronary, trauma, behavioral health, oncology and obstetrics.

Baptist continuously strives to be a national leader in quality and service; and in 2011, this facility celebrated 60 years of providing health and healing for northwest Florida and south Alabama. So, when Baptist Health Care network, specifically Baptist Hospital, was interested in reassessing and updating its safety and security programs and technology, it concluded that a new and total solutions approach was needed to best serve patients, hospital staff, physicians, guests and administration.

Updating Security and Safety

In 2010, Baptist Hospital administration decided it was time to update its safety, security and technology to reflect the advancements in its world-class medical care. In addition to the diverse needs at the hospital campus, the Baptist Health Care Network required safety and security operations at several other facilities including the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Baptist Medical Park and Gulf Breeze Hospital.

“Just as the hospital has been advancing its healthcare services, it was now time for us to look for ways to grow and upgrade our security systems as well,” said Doug Lurton, Baptist Hospital director of clinical and support services. In March 2011, Baptist Hospital officials turned to G4S for its enterprise-level, total solutions services.

“Our first priority was establishing a partnership atmosphere and providing a security survey for Baptist Hospital administration,” said Patrick Dawson, G4S general manager, Pensacola. “First, we listened to Baptist Hospital about their challenges and then we initiated our analysis by identifying areas of concern and developing a total solution.”

Perhaps most important was the G4S project manager within the hospital, who became an in-house point of contact for Baptist Hospital officials. Having a security manager on-site created a true partnership atmosphere, solving any real time or future planning issues.

“G4S immediately helped us define our needs,” said Lurton. “They took the initiative to make the partnership a positive one and provided us with tools and information.”

After an initial site survey analysis, G4S identified technology and manpower needs along with updates on safety and security solutions for the Baptist Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital, Andrews Institute and Baptist Medical Park. At Baptist Hospital, some of the hospital’s medical units required specialized methodologies that needed to be incorporated into an overall safety and security program. For example, the main hospital building, with almost 50 access points, required new safety and security protocols.

Security officers in select areas. Along with focusing on traditional safety and security needs for patients, staff and visitors within the hospital campus, administrators also needed a security company that could perform parking patrols, escorts for staff, locked-box pharmaceutical transportation and patient watch assistance in its Behavioral Health Services unit.

G4S provided unarmed Upscale Security Officers who are specially trained in non-violent crisis intervention. This training helps officers understand the unique challenges in the mental health environment as well as the importance of TJC, HIPAA, National Patient Safety Goals and other standards. “It was only after some careful, initial analysis that G4S reported there was a predictable ebb and flow when patients were admitted to the behavioral health facility,” said Tim Byrd, Baptist Hospital security manager. “We adjusted schedules so we had more officers available during peak times.”

Other updates. With the help of G4S, Baptist Hospital upgraded its security technology and response methodology for the birthing center; updated its CCTV systems throughout the hospital; established a command center in the ER and adjusted the number of officers patrolling during critical times for patients and medical staff.

“As the partnership with G4S continues, Baptist Hospital safety and security issues have been handled efficiently and appropriately,” Byrd said. “The hospital now has a well-planned, comprehensive security program with approximately 25 armed and unarmed G4S officers, and appropriate technology upgrades that will streamline our efforts.”

The Results and Added Value

Today, Baptist Hospital safety and security programs provided by G4S are a holistic approach that the patients, staff and visitors trust and rely on. The management of security personnel has provided a cost-effective solution for the hospital. Since beginning its partnership with G4S, Baptist Hospital has saved more than $100,000 per year on staff costs alone. In addition, the G4S security teams are well trained and provide a professional image equal to the high level of care wellknown throughout the entire Baptist Health Care Network.

“The G4S CPO works with a level of professionalism that matches the professionalism of our staff and medical teams at our hospital,” said Lurton. “We have a common set of core values, which emphasizes the importance of quality in patient care.” The relationship is translating into a continued, high-level hospital experience, as G4S is involved in solving challenges, creating a responsive atmosphere and participating in security and safety planning.

“By looking at security holistically within the hospital environment, we are continuing to provide a better overall experience for our patients, visitors, medical staff and hospital employees,” said Lurton.

This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

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.” 3

  • 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. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3