Hospitals strive to deliver the best possible patient care in a safe and secure setting. To provide the best possible treatment to patients, staff members must devote their time and attention to patients and not be distracted by other activities occurring around them. Security cameras can provide an extra set of eyes to monitor hospitals and keep track of visitors arriving and leaving, reducing the number of individuals required for this job. Security cameras are an excellent way to safeguard hospitals from criminals and security breaches.

Patients aren’t the only ones who benefit from an integrated, user-friendly security system in the hospital or any medical facility. It also protects sensitive personal data like medical records. Furthermore, hospital security measures help prevent theft and misuse of hospital equipment, medical supplies, and valuable drugs and medicines. Security cameras, when properly installed, provide more than just a sense of security; they also play a pivotal role in any healthcare organization’s overall security system.

The five main reasons for installing security cameras in a medical facility are as follows:

1. Keep an Eye on All Activities

Since hospitals are huge and crowded, no single person can be at every location at all times. Security cameras monitor the main doors, corridors, and elevators to keep a record of everyday activities among patients, hospital staff, and people visiting. In addition, the staff is more productive when they are monitored. While there are tons of options available in security set-ups, for continuous performance solar powered security cameras are excellent for healthcare institutions since they are cost-effective and won’t be affected by interruptions caused by power outages. 

You can monitor your security cameras in real-time even when no one is present to physically monitor the system. With this round-the-clock monitoring, you’ll be able to catch any mishaps as soon as they happen and take the appropriate action as early as possible. For example, there may be times when a group of individuals enters a room where they are not allowed. Live monitoring will alert you to any events in the hospital that require your immediate attention.

2. Enhance Safety and Security

Any type of security is critical for ensuring people’s safety. Because hospitals are open to the public and frequently crowded, protecting the public against various forms of theft and crime is critical. Installing surveillance cameras in publicly accessible areas of the hospital will allow you to see whether anyone is engaging in unethical behavior. Hospitals have a lot of heavy traffic from visitors, healthcare workers, and patients. Unauthorized individuals can sometimes get entry to restricted locations or find a way inside storage rooms. While security cameras may not be able to entirely prevent theft, they can deter crime. 

Hospitals have a lot of valuable equipment, instruments, and medicines, and heavy foot traffic can make it tough for security guards to keep an eye out on everyone. When surveillance cameras are visible to the human eye, people are less likely to commit crimes. 

Consider the transfer of drugs from the legal to the illegal markets. According to one report, several physicians and nurses were involved in medicine theft cases in 2018, equating to a $164 million loss that year. Although the healthcare system is aware of these difficulties, physically monitoring workers with access is challenging and requires a more dependable monitoring option, such as camera surveillance.

3. Provides Visual Evidence

If an incident or crime is being investigated, security cameras can provide proof. False allegations of injury while on hospital premises can be a serious problem. If a patient refuses to follow a doctor’s instructions and develops a medical complication, video evidence can be used to prove that the patient acted against medical advice. Moreover, security cameras record what happens in medical facilities. In many circumstances, video recording serves as evidence when several parties face a conflict. It helps in investigating false allegations, the settlement of employee conflicts, the inquiry of theft and violence, and other situations. 

Organizations can then utilize the footage as evidence to arrest and prosecute the offender. Most importantly, the surveillance system can save footage to a USB drive, email account, or on the cloud, allowing investigators to continue the investigation from any location.

4. Increased Staff Performance

It’s not easy to run a huge medical center and when doctors and other medical personnel are not pleasant and efficient, the hospital suffers. There are times when hospital personnel may not be working as hard as they should assist patients. Security cameras are constantly monitoring employees to verify that they are carrying out their duties and tasks. As a result, they give it their all and deliver great care, pushing them to be more productive.

When employees’ every step is monitored, they become cautious. They treat patients with far greater efficiency since they are aware that their actions are being tracked. You can reward productive employees and motivate those who need a little extra motivation. When it comes to keeping track of the entire medical facility, security cameras are simple to install and quite reliable. However, there is a possibility that the cameras will be tampered with, therefore knowing how to prevent tampering with your security cameras is essential.

5. Help Minimize Expenses and Liabilities

Hospital parking lots don’t have to be unsafe for people. Security cameras installed in hospital parking spaces can assist in keeping people safe and protected. It is expensive to hire security guards. Installing security cameras in high-traffic locations, such as entrance doors and staircases, can help hospitals save money on the costs of hiring additional people to monitor parking areas. Security cameras are a fraction of the expense of security guards that are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Furthermore, hospitals may be held accountable for crimes committed on their property. Damage to cars caused by parking lot management, such as scratches and dents, may fall under the hospital’s purview. When activities are recorded, a hospital may use them as evidence to defend itself from frivolous claims or complaints. Aside from protecting the safety of patients and visitors, hospitals must also be concerned with their security.

Key Takeaway

A security camera is an effective tool in hospitals and other medical centers for increasing security while also lowering costs. Security cameras can help safeguard hospital staff and patients from security breaches while also providing vital video evidence that can be utilized to boost productivity and avoid false allegations. Keep in mind that security cameras should only be installed by skilled professionals who can identify which system is ideal for a hospital’s needs. These professionals can assist you in determining how many cameras you’ll need, where they should be placed, and how to monitor and record your footage.