Hospitals and other healthcare facilities operate in a complex, ever-changing environment. Staying ahead of technology trends, creating a safe, secure and yet welcoming environment and most importantly, providing the highest quality of patient care as possible are important goals of any healthcare organization. Security integrators who can contribute to these goals will be seen as a valuable partner as initiatives move forward. One area that touches on many aspects of a healthcare facility’s operation is the credential/ID strategy.
 

A hospital’s employee wears the lanyards with a magnetic stripe ID badge with a barcode printed on it. In addition, she must remember two different PIN codes for offline keypad locks, carry keys for cabinets and a proximity card to access the institution’s other facility. She finds it frustrating to find and use the correct credential for the function she needs to accomplish—whether moving through the facility, using the time and attendance system, logging into the Electronic Medical Records or diagnostic imaging review workstations or accessing supply closets.
 

If we review the typical healthcare facility access control system, in all too many cases, its components were installed in stages by various departments and using different manufacturers’ equipment. As a result, the system with lanyards is comprised of different brands and disparate products, many of which do not interface with each other, causing physicians and employees to use different credentials throughout their work day.

But what if there was one credential that could do it all; that could be used with most systems in the facility? One credential for the staff to carry and easily accomplish multiple tasks? One credential that was secure enough to meet even the toughest standards? One credential that meets their business objectives? Smart cards can do just that.
 

Besides making access control more convenient, smart cards attached with lanyards can be used for time and attendance, logical access, cashless vending and cafeteria payments, and checking out scrubs and medical equipment. Right now, it’s likely that a different credential type is being used with each system. And different departments are managing those credentials. Smart cards make it possible to consolidate all of those functions onto one credential, creating an efficient environment where staff would have only one credential to use throughout their day.