“Whether a patient is being admitted for the first time, or is already familiar with the hospital, it is our job to make sure his/her stay is as comfortable and worry free as possible. This is only possible if the hospital has adequate security measures in place which are able to prevent theft and guarantee detailed escape plans for emergency situations”.
This is how Maria Cecilia Sansavini, CEO of San Pier Damiano Hospital, explains a basic aspect of hospital life - “Security is everything: it is a combination of factors we are aware of and others that we aren’t, ensuring healthcare workers, administrative staff and patients alike feel they are in a safe and secure environment”.
Effective security needs properly trained personnel but when human intervention is just not enough, you need the best active and passive devices to cover all eventualities. This is where CISA comes in.
THE BRIEF
Total, perceptible and omnipresent security: patients have to feel they are at home, protected and worry free. This is the key objective that emerged from a meticulous survey carried out by CISA: an invaluable analysis which identified the priorities and solutions and established a rewarding partnership with San Pier Damiano Hospital.
ON-DEMAND SOLUTION
Specific needs require custom-made solutions. CISA put together a personalised package of solutions, combining mechanical devices with the most sophisticated electronic solutions: a balance between security (preventing unlawful entry through any door) and safety (systems designed to allow people to exit safely in dangerous or emergency situations, like panic exit devices which require certification CE).
A WINNING COMBINATION
The solution adopted by SPDH consists of a combination of mechanical devices and electronic features, coordinated by a customised computerised control system. At the heart of the system is an electronic card: members of staff use their own personal ID card (with their name, surname and photo on it) to clock in while another wall-mounted reader activates the card, sending the audit trail to the control system and, most important of all, checking access rights. This solution allows the system manager to intervene remotely to alter access credentials. He can deny entry to certain users for pre-specified periods of time or grant other users access without having to physically handle the card. And if a card is lost, all the staff member has to do is notify the system manager and it will be deactivated.
UNPARALLELED ELECTRONICS
The solution uses mainly CISA eSIGNO electronic locks, ideal for retrofitting existing systems because they:
- cover any holes and do not change the certification status of the doors
- require no hard wiring
- are battery powered
Electronic locks provide additional protection and safety when evacuating a room: doors fitted with a mechanical lock can be locked from the outside, leaving the occupants inside with no way of escaping, whereas with an electronic lock simply pushing down on the handle on the inside of the door opens it (while a card or mechanical key is needed to unlock it from the outside).
FLEXIBLE ACCESS
The electronic solution was possible thanks to a CISA master key system which manages access in an organised manner. One key unlocks several different doors according to a pre-established hierarchy. Only those with access rights can enter certain areas. The end result is optimised, rational key management, with maximum safety and protection of the building guaranteed at all times.
A TANGIBLE RESULT
The solutions adopted were backed up with special training sessions which provided the hospital staff with invaluable security know-how. Tangible security which everyone is aware of at all times: staff, patients and visitors. Every time a door is opened, a world of security opens that is immediately evident. This was the objective of Maria Cecilia Sansavini With CISA it has become a reality.
See the original case study in English and Italian.
GVM Care & Research. San Pier Damiano Hospital is part of GVM Care & Research, an Italian group operating in healthcare, research, the biomedical industry, thermal spas and company services, whose goal is to promote wellness and quality of life. The heart of the group is the integrated network of High Specialty Hospitals, Polyclinics and Day Surgeries with private health clinics. Its ability to create a network which liaises between the different facilities, specialities and services, allows the Group to focus on the citizen-user at all times, combining trust, quality of care, professionalism and appreciation of the individual with welcoming and comfortable settings, committed to health and wellness at all times.
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About Allegion™
Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in safety and security, with leading brands like CISA®, Interflex®, LCN®, Schlage® and Von Duprin®. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion produces a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and other institutions. Allegion is a $2 billion company, with products sold in almost 130 countries.
