Electronic Control Of Who Enters And Exits Your Building
Regardless of whether a building security system is being designed for an expansive continuing care facility or a small rural nursing home, access control is required to assure residents, employees, and visitors they are safe and protected. The solution has to provide security andalso allow for freedom of movement among staff and residents.
Depending on the level of care, the security solution may also extend to protecting residents from themselves. Many long-term care communities we serve also have skilled care units dedicated to individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia. These residents require special attention and can benefit from systems to prevent elopement.
Assisted Living and Skilled Care communities typically have many entrances that must be open to visitors, residents, and staff, and other areas that must remain accessible only to authorized personnel. From perimeter doors to medical records and pharmacy rooms, every area has unique access requirements. An engineered Access Control system consisting of electronic locks, keypads, and credential readers (magnetic ID cards or key fobs) can be configured to fit every application.
Smart Cards
Contactless smart credentials provide the highest level of security, compatibility, and scalability. Smart Cards can be customized to meet present security and safety needsand accommodate future applications that let the system affordably adapt as needed. The flexible design of these credentials helps them support diversified applications ranging from biometrics to cashless vending to logical access control. Smart cards are individually coded by management to regulate access to specific areas of the facility based on role. Dual Authentication can be achieved by utilizing a combination keypad and card reader. Access levels are easily modified or denied upon termination using the system management software.
Biometric Readers
Biometric technology is a viable solution for both access control and time and attendance functions. By scanning a user’s fingerprint or hand geometry, biometric devices identify the user and then relay the information back to systems to validate access rights and sign them in for their work shift. Because the biometric device checks fingerprints or hand geometry, it eliminates the practice of employees loaning their credentials to others. Biometrics ensures the person is who they say they are. Borrowing another’s card or PIN code isn’t enough.
Integrated Wander Management
As most communities now include a memory care unit in their mix of services, having wander management features integrated with access control of exterior and key interior corridor doorways has become a necessity. Torrence has extensive experience and expertise integrating wireless wearable transmitters that automatically lock doorways and sends alerts to staff when a transmitter is within a predefined distance from a doorway. Learn more by looking at the Wander Management section of our website.
Access Control Software
The access control software application provides complete management control of the system. The software lets administrators manage access rights for different staff levels and allows management to quickly change the door status in case of an emergency. The access control system can be managed onsite or remotely using a web browser-based application, including mobile-based tools that allow for system control from a smartphone.
Intelligent System Design
The design of an access control system is influenced by the size and complexity of the facility. A large campus with over 32 doors to control will often lean towards the “Enterprise” version of an access control system, which includes more sophisticated management features and can control hundreds of doors. Smaller facilities with up to 64 doors can function exceptionally well with scaled-down system packages that still include all the key features of the top-of-the-line Enterprise versions.
The most common system architecture is electronic locks with an associated card “reader,” biometric reader or keypad hard-wired back to a central location like an electrical or data closet. A standalone PC or server controls all of the lock and reader hardware controllers. The server is connected to the building IP network to provide control for one or many users via PCs or mobile devices with the management software installed.
Another system option is Power Over Ethernet (POE) controllers located at each door with an associated reader wired to the POE controller at the door. Each door controller is wired back to a POE switch in the data closet, and the entire network is integrated using the building’s existing IP network.
Additionally, battery-powered electronic locks controlled via WiFi or Bluetooth access points are another option that can be utilized, especially in areas where pulling wire to door locations is difficult.
Not every door needs to be electronically controlled. Rooms with multiple entrance doors can be economically managed by designating one door as the primary entrance with an electronic lock and reader. The remaining doors are secured with conventional store-room locksets that allow easy egress but require a key to enter. Similarly, some rooms can be managed using a standalone electronic keypad lockset.
What the best solution for your community? A Torrence healthcare-focused sales engineer can help you work through all of the details and provide you with the most effective and affordable solution for your specific needs. Assisted living and long-term care facilities require additional attention to address the unique security needs of a resident community. Torrence has decades of experience serving continuing care communities with every level of security requirement; from simple check-in functions for independent residences to fully monitored skilled-care dementia units.
We also have the expertise to integrate a security solution that includes wireless pendants for residents, geo-fencing of outdoor areas, and linking access control to the video security system. Events are tagged on the video surveillance recordings for easy retrieval. Torrence is also a state-certified fire alarm provider, so every system we design and install meets all code requirements.
Case Studies
Ready to take your communication system to the next level?