This post was originally published on September 8, 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Medical facilities, such as hospitals, pharmacies or doctors’ offices, must be extremely cautious when storing equipment and medicine.
In Pennsylvania, three people broke into a hospital and stole $450,000 worth of medical equipment.
Without proper protection in place, medication and medical equipment can fall into the wrong hands. If medication is consumed without medical guidance or equipment is used improperly, your business, patients and employees are put at risk.
Below, we overview how healthcare facilities can provide extra protection for areas containing medicine or medical equipment.
Fend Off Burglars and Environmental Hazards
Your facility’s medicine and equipment, such as prescription drugs, laboratory materials and monitors, are not only extremely valuable, but potentially dangerous when used improperly.
They require a high level of protection.
Avoid theft and damage from environmental hazards by installing monitored alarms where medical items are stored.
Some monitored alarms to consider are:
Although installing monitored alarms can help increase security measures, proper installation is critical. Work with your vendor to ensure you and your Monitoring Center are communicating and receiving notifications.
Limit Access to Necessary Individuals
Only grant authorized personnel access to medical equipment and medication. Individuals that have access to storage areas (e.g. cabinets, storage rooms, carts) should have knowledge of their contents so no equipment or medicine is misused or misplaced.
Consider keeping tabs on personnel with the following security equipment:
- Access control devices (e.g. biometric readers, key cards, swipe readers). These will allow you to assign each individual a specific form of identification so you can determine who is accessing storage areas at all times.
- Image sensors. Have the ability to instantly detect if someone has accessed or entered a restricted storage area, no matter where you are.
- Video surveillance cameras. Place cameras inside and outside of storage areas to ensure authorized personnel are the only ones entering—and acting appropriately.
Also, consider using mobile solutions via smartphone, tablet or laptop to receive notifications if any of these systems are triggered.
Keep Storage at Optimal Temperatures
Different types of medication and medical supplies require specific temperature and humidity levels to avoid spoilage, contamination or dangerous chemical reactions. Keep an eye on room conditions by utilizing smart thermostats in your medical storage areas.
Smart thermostats allow you and other facility professionals to control settings remotely. Adjust temperature levels or set them to your preferred settings and receive alerts if there are changes.
Secure Your Healthcare Facility
From cyber attacks to theft, healthcare facilities face numerous threats. For this reason, an experienced security vendor is critical.
For an assessment and recommendation for your healthcare business, contact Vector Security expert now.
How does your medical facility ensure proper medicine and medical equipment storage? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
