By Healthcare Facilities Today

Wireless lock technology, innovative locking mechanisms and multipurpose smart cards are just a few of the innovations bringing increased safety and security to facilities operations today, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management magazine website. Web-based solutions allow facilities to access security systems from virtually any location connected to its network.

This integrated approach to managing security and access to facilities has given many hospitals greater control over their environments and made it easier to prevent security breaches, the article said. Changes occurring with the Affordable Care Act have led many organizations to reassess their strategies to handle potential increases in patient flow.

Hospitals need to quickly control and restrict access (lockdown) in one particular area or simultaneously throughout the entire facility in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency, Lisa B. Pryse, Healthcare Security Solutions, said in the article. "The hospital must be able to manage access as well as identify persons who come in and out of their facility during this type of event."

According to James McGowan, CyberLock Inc., heath care faces two access control trends:

• Multipurpose smart cards

• Systems based on an open architecture

Read the article.