Benefits of Hospital Video Surveillance

Video surveillance saves lives-Especially in intensive care units, patients are mostly unable to communicate a deterioration of their condition to medical staff. Video surveillance enables staff to monitor patients 24/7 – for in an emergency it is the quick reaction of the treating physicians which determines a patient’s chances to survive. In anaesthetic recovery rooms the patients’ conditions are also simply monitored from the nurses’ room.
Increase overall security and safety – Security cameras positioned throughout a hospital help to prevent crimes and break-ins and also allow operators to watch for troubled patients and monitor for unauthorized visitors in restricted areas.
Improve worker productivity – The presence of surveillance cameras on the premises can improve communication between hospital departments or buildings, allowing for heightened productivity.
Security in the newborn nursery-Repeatedly, cases of children being kidnapped from newborn nurseries hit the headlines. In order to ensure that not only the newborn infants may doze peacefully but also their parents may sleep in peace, many hospitals employ video surveillance systems. Hence, nobody enters the baby ward unnoticed. The systems’ flexibility allow for the monitoring system to be connected to an access control system so that no unauthorized persons gain access to the premises
Prevent dishonest claims – In instances where patients or visitors falsely attest to injuring themselves on hospital property, visual evidence from the facility’s security cameras can disprove such assertions, saving the hospital from pricey unwarranted insurance claims.
Resolve employee disputes – Employee disputes are easily resolved when clear visual proof is available. Surveillance cameras can shed light on incidents in question.
Continuous real-time monitoring – IP surveillance allows authorized hospital employees to monitor critical areas continuously, in real time, from their personal computers.
Digital storage – Hospitals that choose to install IP-based video surveillance systems can take advantage of the benefits of digital storage. IP systems enable the user to store recorded footage digitally on network servers, hard-drives or NVRs, where the surveillance video is easily accessible to authorized users, and offers improved searching capabilities.
Visual evidence for investigations – Surveillance cameras can provide invaluable visual evidence for investigations of criminal activity and other specific events that have taken place within or around healthcare facilities.
Remote video monitoring – Remote monitoring is an extremely helpful tool in medical facilities. IP surveillance allows hospital employees to view security camera footage remotely from any PC with network access. Multiple sites can even communicate over the same network with all of the camera views accessible online via the Internet.
Perimeter protection-Surveillance systems are already used in perimeter protection: High-resolution surveillance cameras keep an eye on every corner and ensure that no unauthorized person enters the compound. In most cases, the system will be monitored by a gate keeper via the monitoring software SMAVIA Viewing Client which is very clear and easy to operate, which negates the requirement to employ additional security personnel. Additionally, if a number plate recognition system is connected to the CCTV system, the operation of barriers or traffic lights (i.e. in parking blocks or carriage gateways) can be controlled automatically
These and many more are the advantages of having a video surveillance system in a hospital environment.
Risks of Healthcare Video Surveillance
Over reliance – While video surveillance is an important part of any hospital’s security plan, it’s also critical that the appropriate level of physical security personnel is in place.
Privacy – Security cameras are effective tools for monitoring many sections of a hospital, but patient privacy should be considered when determining whether or not cameras should be placed in a facility’s more private areas.
Tampering – If a security camera is tampered with and damaged, the video signal could be lost. Other security measures should be in place to make up for an interrupted signal.
Setup Standards

• Place security cameras that provide views of all building entrances and exits in order to capture images of those entering and leaving the premises.
• Monitor hospital hallways to keep watch over the flow of activity within the facility.
• Position cameras in elevators and fire escapes.
• Utilize surveillance equipment to watch over the hospital’s parking lots and loading areas.
• Install security cameras at entrances to restricted areas to ensure that only authorized users are granted access.
• Position cameras both inside and outside of the facility.

• As healthcare facilities grow larger and provide around-the-clock care, they become more vulnerable to a wide array of security risks and vulnerabilities. While industry guidelines mandate a growing reliance on hospital security under its “Environment of Care” standards, it is the responsibility of each individual hospital and healthcare organization to decide on the right tools to meet their needs.