Hospital and healthcare settings offer many ways to use video surveillance. The security needs of these institutions reflect the life-or-death work they do and also a volatile environment where emotions can run high. Healthcare facilities present application challenges that include variable lighting, a need for indoor and outdoor coverage, and often a campus setting where a critical incident might occur a long distance from a central location. Recent technology advances are well-suited for the hospital and healthcare setting, expanding the video surveillance capabilities needed to protect patients, staff and visitors. Let's look at some of the ways video technology today can solve surveillance challenges in hospitals and health care facilities.
Hybrid solutions. Most hospitals have an existing video surveillance system in place, and if it is at least several years old, it is very likely an analog system. These institutions face the challenge of upgrading their analog systems while keeping costs down and preserving previous investments in technology. Fortunately, it is now possible to expand an analog system using a hybrid strategy to enhance coverage and to have most, if not all of the functionality of an all-IP system. For example, Scottsdale Healthcare in Arizona has installed 125 Panasonic cameras and is looking to double that number over the next year using a combination of best-in-breed network and analog video solutions.