North Carolina Sounds assisted the hospital with the transition from analog to IP security. Panasonic network cameras and software was selected to ensure safety for the hospital.
Celebrating more than 100 years in the community, Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, N.C., serves patients from some nine surrounding cities and other locations across Wayne County, and is home to many distinguished physicians, advanced technologies and innovative treatments.
Assisted by systems integrator, North Carolina Sound, the hospital began a multi-phase security upgrade process from analog to IP in 2011. At that time, the hospital had a mix of approximately 100 analog cameras from a variety of manufacturers. The police office housed the surveillance command center and used multiplexers to switch out 16 cameras at a time for viewing.
Security personnel want the ability to track people throughout the hospital, making sure areas are secured and people are protected. While Wayne Memorial Hospital resides in one of the highest crime rate locations of Goldsboro, local Police Chief Michael Wightman is convinced the deterrent factor of visible video surveillance cameras throughout the campus has resulted in the facility boasting the lowest crime rates of all hospitals in the area.
The Security Mix Provides Ubiquitous Coverage
The hospital is currently using wireless cameras in the parking lots to mitigate negligence claims, theft, vehicle damage and breaking and entering into cars. Some 90 percent of deployed cameras are i-PRO SmartHD Super Dynamic Weather Resistant HD Dome Network Cameras—models
WV-SW395, which features 720p HD images at up to 30fps and 1.3 Megapixel double speed MOS Sensor, and WV-SFN311 Super Dynamic HD Dome Network Cameras, with 720p HD images at up to 60fps and Super Chroma Compensation for sharp color reproduction in low-light illumination.
Most of the cameras are positioned in hallways and building exteriors/parking lots as well as common areas, including the Behavioral Health Center. Cameras also cover the parking areas of the outpatient buildings on the hospital's grounds. Wayne Memorial Hospital has also deployed i-PRO SmartHD WV-SW355 Super Dynamic HD Vandal Resistant Fixed Dome Network Cameras, with 720p HD images at up to 30fps and Face Super Dynamic Range technology to ensure clear face imaging in the breezeway and monitoring entrances/exits to the Emergency Room Department.
In addition, an i-PRO SmartHD WV-SF438 360° Super Dynamic Indoor Network Dome Camera is used in the hospital's pharmacy to monitor narcotics handling and dispensing. It provides flexible viewing modes, 360 degrees of coverage and 1080p Full HD images at up to 30fps.
The hospital is also exploring the further use of
Panasonic's WV-ASF900 FacePro Facial Search and Recognition System, a server-based software program that provides advanced age and gender analytics reporting as well as the ability to set flexible alarm triggers on matches using live i-PRO cameras. The Facial Recognition System would be used at the three main entrances to the hospital, placed so as to help police and security identify known criminals entering the hospital. According to Wightman, the hospital on average arrests 35 to 40 individuals per month from warrants issued by the county and from running a criminal history on suspicious persons.
Safety, Security And Litigation
Cameras blanket nearly every part of the hospital's public areas. Wayne Memorial employees and on-site, sworn police agency senior management at the hospital feel much safer than now than prior to the implementation.
Traffic mishaps and incidents in the parking areas are also recorded, which can help settle disputes over incidents. In one instance a patient was released and transported out of the hospital in a wheelchair waiting for transportation home. The patient stood up to get into a vehicle, slipped off the curb and broke her ankle. The security cameras showed that the staff followed all protocols, including locking the wheels of the wheelchair, protecting the hospital from a possible slip and fall negligence claim. In addition, leveraging the cameras hospital police were able to apprehend an individual who was intoxicated and hit three cars in the parking lot. As the offender entered the hospital, security was there to meet her and hold her responsible for the damage.