Clay Platte Family Medicine is an all-in-one medical clinic offering a wide range of services for residents of suburban Kansas City, MO. With more than 100 staff members and 250 to 450 patients visiting a day, control over entry-way security is essential to protect patients, records, medicine, and potentially dangerous medical equipment.
Clay Platte Family Medicine is an all-in-one medical clinic offering a wide range of services for residents of suburban Kansas City, MO. With more than 100 staff members and 250 to 450 patients visiting a day, control over entry-way security is essential to protect patients, records, medicine, and potentially dangerous medical equipment.
The clinic needed to upgrade their manual lock-and-key system to better accommodate their security requirements. They also wanted a system that could grow with them as they expanded.
Solution
Axis partner Wachter recommended that the clinic install an IP-based access control system to meet all of their needs. AXIS A1001 Network Door Controller with AXIS Entry Manager software offered a simple, scalable and secure solution with all the benefits of IP-based technology. Unique, color-coded wiring diagrams streamlined the installation process. New units can be dropped in with ease, and the intuitive software gives the administrator complete control over the system.
Result
Clay Platte Family Medicine has been able to establish full control over who can access their facility and when. They are able to set schedules, groups and clearance levels by dragging and dropping names in the software. They can feel safe knowing doors are locked at night, and the administrator has the ability to grant temporary access from home in case of an emergency. The cost savings they realized with the IP system has allowed them to explore incorporating video surveillance with the access control system.
Non-stop activity
The level of service means the clinic is a constant buzz of activity. “Essentially, once 8 o'clock hits, our phones start ringing, our doors start opening and our patients start visiting,” Delaney said. The clinic employs more than 100 people, and a steady stream of couriers, pharmaceutical representatives, patient's families and others pass in and out all day long. “Once those doors open, it is non-stop busy,” he said. In such a bustling environment, maintaining control over who goes where is critical. In addition to protecting its patients and staff, the clinic also needs to secure sensitive materials like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and patient records. “It's not uncommon in medicine for people to try to sneak in the backdoors to get what they need,” said Head Clinical Nurse, Patty Jean As a medical facility, many of the items inside are extremely dangerous, such as scalpels, drugs and electro-cardio tools. “It's not just that people are taking our stuff,” she said. “They are taking stuff they don't know how to use.”
The network advantage
Before installing Axis' Physical Access Control solution, Clay Platte relied on manual lock and key security. However, the clinic wanted to enhance their access control beyond what those locks could provide. “As an integrator, one of the key things we look at when choosing an IP system over an analog system is the scalability,” said Wachter Solutions Engineer/Architect, Mario Palmietto. “We try to find a solution that will allow the system to grow with the customer.”
Quick and easy installation
The Axis network door controllers are independent units that operate on a non-proprietary, open IP-based platform. New units can be added to the network individually, and the installation process is a breeze. Palmietto and his team were able to pre-configure the system on their in-house computers before starting the physical installation. After pre-configuration, AXIS Entry Manager software produced a unique color-coded wiring diagram that corresponded to the connectors on the back of the unit to help streamline installation time and reduce complexity.
Analog systems are more complex, said Wachter Field Engineer Mathew Fritzemeier. They often require a service manual and leave it up to the installer to determine where the wires go. The Axis software, however, “walks you right through it.” Additionally, because the Axis units support Power-over-Ethernet, Wachter was able to eliminate the need for expensive composite cables. This significantly reduced costs and allowed Clay Platte to invest in more security for the future.
Intuitive and feature-rich software
Wachter also recommended AXIS Entry Manager because the user-friendly interface makes it easy for Clay Platte to administer the system themselves. “It just tells you what to do intuitively,” Jean said. As administrator, she can drag and drop staff into groups to create access schedules based on shifts and set specific clearance levels for various parts of the building. “It gives me the flexibility of actually setting schedules, so when people are supposed to be here, they can get in, and when they aren't, they can't.” The software also allows Jean to control the system remotely. If, in an emergency, someone needed to get in afterhours, she can grant immediate access from home for a specific amount of time. “If they need to be there for an hour, I can literally pin down an hour,” she said.
As Clay Platte expands, they plan to install the Axis system at their new locations. “Because it is on our network, and our network shares everything…it is another system we can drop into place,” Jean said. “That is a huge plus and a huge cost savings.” In fact, the cost savings are allowing Clay Platte to explore integrating IP surveillance cameras into the system. They also hope to add alarm functions and even payroll tracking support.
Complete control
AXIS A1001 and the AXIS Entry Manager system has given Clay Platte Family Medicine Clinic complete control over the entrances to their facility. The doors are guaranteed to be locked and secure at night, and they are protected from any unauthorized access to the back of the facility.
“Since we have installed the system, I haven't had to worry about people walking in uninvited,” said physician- owner Dr. Nathan Granger. While the Axis system blocks out those who don't belong, it doesn't impede the work of the clinic. “Accessing the system has been quite easy for me and my staff,” Granger said. “It has not affected our workflow at all.” “I think everybody is excited to have it in place,” Dr. Delaney said. “The improved security provides a real peace of mind