Intercom systems have come a long way since their first inception and adoption by healthcare facilities. The installed stations are no longer simple analog systems requiring a visitor to press a button to be “buzzed in.”
The development of IP intercom solutions has introduced the healthcare market to a host of communication possibilities that can be leveraged across a variety of facility types and departments. With enhanced technology, such as touchless sensors and two-way video, intercoms have evolved to become a necessary and vital means of managing the flow of visitors, patients, and staff in healthcare settings.
- Managing entrances
As healthcare facilities struggle with staffing, intercom systems have become a work force multiplier, enabling a single hospital security guard to safely and remotely manage multiple entrances from a central location. Security guards can visually assess the situation and talk to a person before allowing access, such as the emergency department, with a two-way audio and video system. Security guards can assess if this person seems agitated or may be carrying a weapon.
- Protecting high security areas
For maternity wards, an intercom system can be strategically placed near the elevator that goes to the maternity floor or before the entrance to the unit, allowing visitors to request access from the nurse station. The ability to see, hear, and talk to visitors provides an additional element of security not readily available with traditional surveillance systems. If a nurse detects an issue, the conversation from the intercom system can easily be transferred to the security staff to handle and mitigate.
- Adding security layers in mental health facilities
Facilities that treat patients with mental health issues are keenly aware of how important it is to confirm the identity of a patient or visitor before permitting that individual to enter. This is especially true if a patient is in crisis and may need immediate assistance. An IP intercom system with video capabilities allows staff to communicate and visually assess a patient first before permitting access into the building. If someone at the front desk determines that a patient is in distress, additional support staff can provide greater assistance than the original employee may have been able to provide.
- Protecting patients in memory care units
Long-term care facilities designed to take care of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s are often challenged with the task of making sure residents do not wander away from the unit or the facility. While they must maintain lock-down status to keep these residents safe, memory care units also need to enable the free-flow of visitors and healthcare staff. Not only does a two-way video and audio intercom system provide an additional layer of security, it provides visual verification and enhances communication with those who need to enter or leave the facility. With an intercom system, front desk staff can confirm the identity of a person requesting to leave before releasing the door to exit. This additional security measure helps memory care units provide peace of mind to the families of residents.
Increasing security needs in healthcare settings, partially due to COVID-19, and the need to restrict human interactions along with a growing number of violent incidents in hospitals, have brought intercom systems to the forefront in recent years. Thanks to technological advancements, the capabilities of intercom systems have been enhanced significantly to become versatile, cost-effective door entry solutions.
