CEM’s AC2000 SE System Provides IP Based Security At Victoria And Stobhill Hospitals

Using the AC2000 SE system, security staff can easily design and print their own access control passes

Glasgow hospitals, Stobhill and Victoria are two of Scotland’s largest hospitals, each featuring four floors covering 30,000 square metres and providing care for 400,000 patients. CEM Systems supplied the new £100 million hospitals with a fully integrated IP solution using the CEM AC2000 SE (Standard Edition) system. Installed by ADT Glasgow, the AC2000 SE system also provided the integration platform for over 26 Intellex DVR’s (Digital video Recorders) and Honeywell Galaxy Intruder Alarm Panels.

As part of the prestigious public/ private sector partnership project, the new ambulatory care hospitals at Victoria and Stobhill represented a significant investment in National Health Services (NHS) and marked a new era in patient care.

CEM IP readers

Using CEM EtherProx card readers within the design of the AC2000 SE system, CEM provided the hospitals with a flexible and versatile IP based security solution. The EtherProx reader is the industry’s smallest Ethernet card reader with LED lights, integrated keypad for added PIN security and an LCD display to show card response messages, for example, ‘Access Granted’, ‘Wrong Timezone’, ‘Card Expiring’. The keypad adds PIN security ensuring there are numerous layers of security in order for an individual to enter certain areas of the hospital. This could prove particularly useful for the pharmacy, intensive care and other secure areas of the hospital which require restricted access. The EtherProx reader also features an internal database giving off-line card validation at all times, even when host communications are not available. A selection of EtherProx readers were also mounted in tamperproof intercom enclosures to add the option of dialog to particular hospital doors.

Cost savings with PoE+

Significant cost savings were made throughout the project using the industry first, CEM DIU 230 (high power POE+ Door Interface Unit). The key benefit of the DIU 230 is that it eliminates the need for both a mains connection and a local power supply to the door. As a new building with Ethernet infrastructure, the DIU 230’s dedicated security network supplied sufficient power via the same Cat 5e/6 cable to power CEM EtherProx readers and most importantly to reliably power a double magnetic lock at 840mA securing the door. In addition to reducing the cost of electrical infrastructure, the DIU 230 installation is classed as low voltage and can be completed by IT network installers without the expense of an electrician or electrical contractor.

Software applications

Stobhill & Victoria hospitals found many of the AC2000 SE software modules beneficial including AC2000 VIPPS (ID Badging) which allows the security personnel to produce permanent and temporary ID Badges for medical staff, contractors and visitors. Using the user friendly AC2000 pass design module, security staff can easily design and print their own access control passes. This allowed them to easily add the NHS logo to their card design. Using the AC2000 ‘Access Levels’ application, the AC2000 system offered the hospitals the ability to link card holders to access groups such as day surgery, Accident & Emergency, X-ray etc. This ensures that each individual cardholder has the appropriate level of access to restricted areas.

AC2000 ‘Broadcast Zones’ application also aids the hospitals in their fire evacuation strategy. Broadcast zones allows emergency evacuation to be staggered in the event of a fire and is also used to open certain doors at specific times of the day for free access.

High standard of integrated video

As an integrated security management system, the AC2000 SE system installed at Stobhill/Victoria was fully integrated with Galaxy Intruder panels and American Dynamics Intellex DVR’s (Digital Video Recorder’s). Both hospitals have one of the UK’s largest virtual matrix systems with over 26 Intellex DVR’s and over 300 fixed dome and PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) dome cameras installed. The Intellex allows staff to simultaneously record, play back and archive video, text and audio footage - ensuring footage is never lost. The Intellex also responds to events with alarm triggered dome positioning and can be set to record only the events you need by setting triggers for alarms generated electronically. This can help save space on the hard drive.

Integrated Alarm Event Display (AED)

The AC2000 AED application is a powerful interface that shows graphical maps of the hospitals and their associated reader/ camera locations. It is the central graphical user interface that integrates the Intellex cameras and Galaxy Intruder Panels into AC2000. AED responds to all alarm situations in real time, providing a dynamic on-screen interface to reader and camera footage. Via the AED application located in the hospital security room, security personnel can quickly respond to alarm events and view footage as well as remotely control doors in the event of an emergency. This is highly important to the hospitals as staff need to feel secure when dealing with patients. If a patient becomes abusive or violent and a member of staff feels uncomfortable they can also hit a panic alarm and it will show on the central AED. The security team can then click on the nearest camera in the AED application to view the situation.

Keeping patients and staff secure

Over the next 6 years, there will be a £750 million investment in Glasgow’s hospitals and security will be of extreme importance due to patient safety, criminal threats and increased attacks on staff. CEM Systems have provided Stobhill and Victoria with an advanced future proof security solution and will continue to support both Glasgow hospitals in their future security needs.