The Missouri-based CoxHealth has hit upon the right solution for curbing crime at its sprawling 2.3 million-square-feet campus. Springfield, Mo.’s most famous hospital has recently deployed more than 100 Axis network cameras and encoders at its ambulatory surgery center and parking garages to ensure safety and reduce crime.
The deployment has helped the health care center achieve higher on-campus security without adding to the size of its security staff. With the installation of the network cameras and encoders CoxHealth was able to cut both the number of thefts in its surgery center and vehicle break-ins at its parking lots.
While AXIS 215 PTZ and AXIS 225FD Network Cameras were installed in outdoor areas, the AXIS M3011 Network Cameras were installed indoors.
In addition to identifying break-ins and accidents occurring in parking garages and entrances/exits, this digital surveillance system can also help the huge hospital identify issues in surgery center hallways, medicine distribution centers and confidential documents rooms to avoid incidents.
The security staffers are commissioned law enforcement officers who make regular arrests and realize successful prosecution of crimes based upon video evidence. Security staff monitors network camera views from a central location, leveraging intelligent video and the intuitive OnSSI VMS to identify incidents, and dispatch patrolling staff to areas of concern.
The Sweden-based Axis has global reputation for its network video solutions for professional installations. The company played a key role in shifting the global emphasis from analog to digital video surveillance. So far as CoxHealth installations are concerned, NetWatch, Inc., an Axis Solution Gold Partner, served as the integrator for the IP-based system. Axis was chosen as the camera provider because of the company’s superior product warranty, proven quality and consistent experiences of excellent technical support.
CoxHealth was experiencing several security draw backs due to the analog cameras installed in parts of its facility and parking garages. In addition of giving out poor quality images, another major disadvantage with analog cameras was: they could not be networked together. Moreover, it was tedious and time-consuming to pull up video of past incidents using DVRs.
NetWatch worked up the solution for the health care major. The company devised a transition strategy that included both network cameras and AXIS 243Q Video Encoders. These encoders enable many IP capabilities, including central monitoring, motion detection and camera tampering alarms, and provide complete integration with other network cameras.
The future plan involves replacing all analog equipment with network cameras from Axis.
In the next implementation phase, approximately 60 Axis network cameras will be installed in the new emergency room building to monitor medication disposal, storage, pharmacy and common areas.
CoxHealth also anticipates implementing advanced video analytics to help determine the number of vehicles using parking facilities as well as patients and visitors entering and leaving facilities.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Alice Straight
