Door Security Trends in Health Care

by Tom Morgan - Director of Business Development: Healthcare

Even with the prospect of fewer respiratory infections as spring arrives, the health care system continues to face major challenges on several fronts.

Doctors, nurses and support staff are still stretched thin by labor shortages and extra workloads. High inflation and other economic worries weigh on the minds of patients and administrators. All this comes on top of the endemic COVID-19, seasonal influenza and the recent spoke in the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Further straining the system are cybersecurity concerns and a side effect of the health care workplace - threats from upset or agitated patients, family members and others.

It's more important than ever to take progressive steps to create and maintain a healthy, secure and safe working environment. It allows health care workers in focus on giving patients the best care possible. Safer working environments can also translate into higher success rates for retaining trusted professionals and recruiting qualified talent.

An Increase in Construction

Adding to the demands on the system is the increase in hospital and clinic construction. Notably, behavioral health and psychiatric facilities continue to make up the highest percentage of expansions currently underway or planned for the next few years. These include dedicated treatment centers within hospitals, as well as behavioral health emergency intake/triage areas separate from main emergency departments.

Whether it's a new behavioral health department or an additional wing for a hospital, the security of door openings provides the primary line of defense for health care workers, patients and visitors alike. Secured openings also extend to medication storage, patient files and servers. The good news is that the industry has more effective functional, privacy and aesthetic options when it comes to door security solutions today.

Advances in Behavioral Health Doors and Hardware

Securing safe behavioral health settings requires that architectural door hardware is ligature resistant and free from sharp edges and catch points. Fortunately, the trend has moved toward levers, latches and other security hardware solutions, offering a soothing, decorative look versus something that appears dreary and oppressive.

Patient rooms can also be equipped with specialty access doors or hardware. For example, double swing hinges can be released by staff in the event a patient has barricaded the door or otherwise prevented the door from opening into the room.

Less Door Contact, More Secure Access

Several touchless (no-touch) and low-touch access technologies were developed as convenient opening solutions well before the pandemic. Ever since the outbreak, demand for devices that help prevent the spread of microbes and viruses has understandably accelerated and smoother movement through openings, provide greater accessibility and promote inclusivity.

Solutions now range from low-touch mechanical hardware like push paddletype trim and door arm and foot pulls, to touchless wave-to-open sensors and electronic access control (EAC) systems that trigger automatic door operators and hold open hardware. EAC credentials have also continued to evolve from keypads to fobs to the more hygienic contactless cards and mobile devices.

An advantage of migrating from card to mobile credentials is that smart devices are far less likely to be lost, stolen or left at home. Smartphones also offer an extra layer of credentialing by requiring facial recognition, a fingerprint or numeric input to authenticate the user. Dedicated biometric access control sensors at the door that use facial recognition are also on the horizon.

Many facilities are also updating door security by rekeying openings with intelligent key systems and using key control platforms.

EAC for Medications and More

The call for cabinet access control has also increased. Access control is especially relevant for health car facility pharmacies where accountability, safety and security are critical. In addition, EAC for server cabinets, patient file storage and personnel lockers has gained more attention.

The layered approach to security facilitates controlled access to key areas of the facility. it can also help ensure compliance with federal and local regulations, boost patient satisfaction, improve efficiency, and reduce the costs of administration, operation, compliance and loss of diverted equipment and supplies.

Specialty Doors

There is a bigger push in health care for sliding and pocket doors. There are typically easier to open and save space by elimination the radio required for a swinging door. Today's sliding and pocket doors feature newer insulating materials that make them more energy efficient and keep rooms quieter, more private and more comfortable. Plus, they have a greater aesthetic quality to them with wood and other decorative finishes that are available.

Delayed and Controlled Egress

Depending on the area within a hospital, assisted living facility or nursing home, there could be a blend of egress solutions. They might be controlled delayed and free, based on what an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) allows. That's why there's an even greater impetus for health care facility administrators to know and stay current on codes.

Delayed egress doors in health care settings help prevent an unauthorized person from entering a secured area of a hospital or exiting through a monitored or restricted door. Typically, passage is allowed only after a specified period, usually 15 or 30 seconds. A loud, audible alarm sounds in the vicinity of the door to discourage someone from trying to sneak through with something valuable, for example.

Controlled egress is common in behavioral health environments where the clinical needs of patients require staff to look after them and their safety, and to ensure they remain within the unit. The same concern for patient safety applies to those who might try to wander out of a dementia unit or memory care facility. For infant patient care wings, the objective is to protect the child and carefully monitor and manage their release.

While some mechanical controlled egress door locks may still exist, in there environments, EAC and maglocks have become the norm as more facilities add advanced solutions.

LifeSafety Power®

Integrated power and access control panels have also become must-haves in health care. Separate boxes and enclosures, from wall mount to rack mount, are brought into one system for intelligent monitoring. Using Netlink communication, LifeSafety Power provides a holistic view of a facility's networked solutions. This includes connected wired and wireless systems, as well as a variety of temperature, humidity, airflow and other sensors. Managers have peace of mind that vital systems are up and running and the integration helps provide greater comfort control throughout the facility.

Cybersecurity

Threats are not limited to the physical security of health care facilities and the patients and healers inside. They also extend to cyberattacks, which have increased significantly worldwide since COVID. Hospital and clinic IT departments were already taxed with keeping systems online to handle massive caseloads. It was challenging to balance those demands with maintaining countermeasures to defend against health care data breaches.

Fortunately, many facilities have since developed risk management programs. They have either bolstered internal capabilities or enlisted the help of managed cybersecurity providers.

Originally, cybersecurity was about safeguarding computers and servers. Today, the focus is on the cybersecurity off networks and the growing number of interconnected Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including digital access solutions for door openings in health care facilities.

Security integrators and their customers are asking manufacturers lots of cybersecurity questions these days. This means they're taking the subject very seriously. They want to hear directly from manufacturers what is being done to protect the devices they're about to procure and/or install. This is why it's important to work with companies that are as transparent as possible about their cybersecurity posture.

It's also critical to become more educated about the cybersecurity of the products and solutions being considered, and about cybersecurity in general. Security awareness organizations like SANS can help take participants from a relatively low level of cybersecurity understanding to much more advanced level. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security also have training for critical infrastructure customers and support organizations.

Security Consultants and Product Standardization

Time is always precious in the health care industry for physicians, department managers, administrators and other decision makers. Finding the bandwidth to address security planning for these expansions while simultaneously dealing with immediate safety concerns can be overwhelming. In addition, some health care facilities are hampered by a shortage of skilled labor to manage door openings and all the integral technology and assets for safeguarding these environments.

Inevitably, it's essential to commit the necessary time and cross functional teams to diagnose the issues, identify the needs and prescribe the best solutions. That's why the trend continues toward tapping into experienced consultants and partners. They can provide insight and education on security innovations and alternatives that lead to better informed decisions.

Fortunately, companies specializing in door security solutions have health care specialists across the United States who are ready to help. They also have solutions that help with everything from design site surveys and specifications, to punch lists, smart tagging of door assets and inspections.

Another trend is standardizing on a product line that covers the extensive security solutions required by the health care industry. Narrowing choice to the most trusted manufacturer and a singular resource can mean significant economics of scale. Better pricing, more consistent quality, easier integrations and a more responsive level of support can be achieved.

This article originally appeared in Door and Hardware Institute.

Tom Morgan is the Director of Business Development: Healthcare for ASSA ABLOY. He is responsible for vertical market growth, program strategy and GPO contracts. He has been in the industry for 15 years, working in distribution and later as a manufacturer’s rep. He received his Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC) and Fire Door Assembly Inspector (FDAI) credentials in 2016.