Securitas Systems USA, Inc. introduced its new Healthcare Solutions Group at HIMSS, the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society tradeshow, in New Orleans on February 26th through the 29th of 2007. 

Securitas Systems Healthcare Solutions Group is a specialized business unit that works within the hospital and healthcare community to offer integrated security solutions and non- traditional risk management solutions.   The Group was formed after intense research with hospital decision makers, healthcare consultants, and security directors.  Through educational seminars and focus groups with hospital personnel responsible for patient safety, a comprehensive security concept has been organized around the best use of technologies and procedures to reduce a healthcare institution’s risk posture. 

Securitas Systems Healthcare Solutions Group works with hospitals and hospital networks throughout the nation to improve security, to reduce liability exposure, and to improve the management of assets within the hospital.  The results of this solution are operational efficiencies, lower institutional liability, and reduction of operating costs.   Each department in the hospital can benefit from this comprehensive solution that has a clearly defined return on investment and a return on risk. 

One component of the integrated system is an asset tracking tool that integrates with the overall security system.  This system tracks and manages hospital devices and equipment that is used for patient care.  By tracking and managing the emergency equipment needed to safely care for a patient, the proper use and effectiveness of the equipment is maximized.   The ability to locate and access necessary medical equipment, such as IV pumps, wheelchairs, open beds, or any needed equipment in a timely and effective manner, is critical to efficiently care for a patient’s health and treatment.  The prompt attention to a patient’s medical situation lowers the hospital liability and ensures that the hospital maintains a positive community image.  This solution also ensures the healthcare institution is compliant with required mandates.
The methods used to track and locate these critical medical products are RFID tags.  These tags can easily be attached to the equipment that needs tracking.  The location of the tagged equipment can be determined immediately since the equipment emits radio waves to the hospital’s internal wireless network.  Through a computer terminal that determines the location of all tagged equipment in the hospital, the caregiver can quickly source the required equipment.  As a result, a patient’s care can be satisfied quickly by getting the services they need. 

These same tags can also be used in the tracking of patients.  For instances, tags could track a patients flow through a facility automatically matching which equipment was used in their treatment and attaching this information specifically to them, without the need for human interaction in order to manage this information.  This results in less errors and it provides nurses and staff more time to treat patients.   A future application may be the tracking of medications administered to include timing and quantity.   Using the same integrated network and solution, the hospital will be able to provide better care to its patients with more efficiency. 

By integrating the asset management systems together with our traditional security offering of alarm notification, alarm monitoring, access control and video surveillance, the hospital receives an integrated solution with a strong return on investment.  This is a major step forward in the protection of people, property, information, and assets within healthcare institutions.