Security systems need to be responsive, and in the healthcare industry this is not merely a requirement, but a critical necessity. In an industry where seconds count and the task at hand means saving lives, time is of the essence.
Across Australia more than 280 End Users in the healthcare sector have chosen Gallagher Security solutions to protect both their people and assets. Hospitals, medical centres, aged care facilities and other health providers rely on Gallagher solutions to empower them to focus on what is most important – caring for patients.
Throughout 2023, some of the most pressing challenges facing the healthcare industry from a security perspective were reliability, multi-site management, responsiveness, integration, and scalability capabilities. In an industry plagued by staff shortages, solutions that enhance security and access permissions while also enabling better utilisation of human resources is vitally important.
Many sites, one security platform
Gallagher Security Sales Manager for Queensland and Papua New Guinea, Pedro DeJesus says the healthcare industry requires solutions that enable optimal functionality. “I have found over many years working with hospitals that the ability to manage multiple sites simply from one platform, is critical.”
Pedro explains how Gallagher is currently working with a regional health board and nominated Channel Partners supporting health service facilities in 30 locations from a single Command Centre management platform. He says upgrading technology to best meet evolving security requirements is one thing, but streamlining operational processes also ensures greater business efficiencies which enables more time for medical staff to focus on the job at hand.
Gallagher’s Command Centre is the powerful software at the heart of Gallagher’s integrated solutions, providing a central management platform designed for complete site control of healthcare sites. From perimeter solutions, intelligent access control, and building management right through to critical sites with the highest security requirements, it’s fully configurable to unique site needs.
In the healthcare sector, Command Centre enables multiple sites to be managed from a single platform, providing better allocation of human resources, shorter response times, and stringent access and security capabilities. Developed in accordance with some of the world’s most critical infrastructure standards, Command Centre offers a complete and scalable solution.
Aim for integrations that allow ease-of-use
Gallagher Security, Technical Business Development Manager for Queensland and Papua New Guinea, Mark Armstrong says healthcare providers need solutions that enable access without compromising security. It requires striking the balance of ensuring the right people are at the right place without delaying their movements in time critical situations.
Mark adds, “Gallagher offers a higher level of security but maintains an ease-of-use quality. End Users don’t need a degree to operate the system and integrations can be made easily across a range of platforms from car parking, CCTV, nurse calls, paging systems, and lift and vehicle management.”
Smart access capabilities enable users to gain access to multiple locations, providing they have the authority and credentials to be there. This can include accessing car parks, operating theatres, supply cupboards and secure drug cabinets.
Protecting what matters most
In any organisation, people are at the heart of what you do, and this is no more prevalent than in the healthcare sector.
Gallagher solutions are designed to protect what matters most and in healthcare this extends to both patient and staff safety. Ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time is critically important, and making sure staff have the necessary access permissions to do their job in time sensitive situations is vital. Gallagher solutions can enable access to certain areas for selected personnel, ensuring only those authorised to be in specific areas are granted access.
In the case of emergency, where alarms are activated, having Command Centre seamlessly ‘speak’ to integrations like CCTV, responders can gain more information about the type of action required. Command Centre’s integration capabilities mean it can quickly alert responders and identify where the duress has come from enabling shorter response times and informed actions.
Command Centre’s approach to site management means End Users can confidently rely on the simplicity of one platform to manage their overall site, and any subsidiary sites, and can integrate with multiple solutions to provide a comprehensive understanding and improved situational awareness across site operations.
Vulnerability protection is key
Assurance that your security system will remain active during an offline event is also paramount for those in the healthcare sector. Gallagher’s controller capabilities ensure that the system keeps working, even during offline events without compromising security enforcement.
With more than $14 billion being invested into Queensland’s health infrastructure over the next four years alone, and a growing elderly population, healthcare organisations need to ensure they are staying abreast of industry growth and changes. A commitment to evolve with a shifting security landscape means Gallagher continues to update its products, with Command Centre rolling out two updated version releases each year.
Older technologies and access solutions can not only expose vulnerabilities in a security system, but may also limit integration opportunities, and pose increased risk to instances of cyberattacks or the use of clone or counterfeit products.
Outdated credentials can increase the risk of cloned products and in turn pose a threat to site security and physical safety. Incidents exposing site vulnerabilities or security breaches can also increase the likelihood of reputational damage to an organisation.
Security training should be front and centre
Gallagher’s commitment to development and innovation also extends to their training initiatives, and through their online training options, End Users can complete online operator and administrator training to ensure a thorough understanding and best practice of Gallagher solutions. Remote training options means training can be conveniently completed at home or the workplace, offering flexibility to best suit the needs of staff and contractors and ensures they have the knowledge and tools to operate Gallagher solutions confidently.
Within the healthcare sector, industry specific training and competencies can be stored within a staff members credentials and used to validate their access into specific areas. Real time access to this information can also be used to notify when training or competencies are near expiry or due for renewal. Information held can also extend to vaccination history and other industry specific criteria that ensures staff are compliant with the requirements of their role.
Leveraging the power of data and reporting
Management and monitoring are one element of Gallagher’s Command Centre capabilities, leveraging the power of reports is another. Users can record and track trends within their site to make informed decisions based on the events recorded in Command Centre.
Identifying trends in guard callouts and determining staffing requirements based on those call outs can help with staffing allocations during peak periods. Users can utilise graphical reports to monitor and track trends in staffing requirements over time, providing a comprehensive view of the evolving needs of their facility.
Command Centre reporting also allows for the evaluation of response times by comparing the acknowledgment time of alarms to the time they were generated in the system, enabling users to optimise guard efficiency and address any delays effectively.
Future-proof security with the C7000
Looking to the future, both Mark and Gallagher Security’s Senior Technical Account Manager for Australia, Mick Lambert agree that enhanced cyber security practices will remain a priority for the healthcare sector.
Gallagher continues its commitment to enhancing its cyber solutions to meet the evolving security landscape. In November 2023, Gallagher released v9 of Command Centre and just a week later, the Controller 7000 (C7000), supported by v9, went to market.
Capable of managing all localized access control, intruder alarms, perimeter security, business automation, and logic needs for organizations, the C7000 represents a new generation of Gallagher Security technology, offering streamlined upgrades and advanced cybersecurity.
“We leverage this new technology to springboard our future developments,” says Mark.
Mick adds, “Gallagher is steeped in history providing security solutions to best meet the needs of our End Users. The release of the C7000, the next generation in the controller family, strengthens our security offerings and provides a future-proof solution for our clients”.
Choose a trusted security manufacturer
With demands on the healthcare sector failing to slow, providers are continually looking at ways they can enhance and streamline their systems and processes to allow more time to focus on what is most important. Gallagher’s range of security solutions not only offer a robust but flexible option, but their ability to offer multi-site management and integration capabilities without comprising the highest of security and access standards means they are positioned to also improve business efficiency today and well into the future.
“Gallagher solutions grow with your requirements. We offer the highest cyber protection, multiple integration capabilities and scalability without compromising site stability. We are designed to grow with the future of the health sector,” says Mick.