Northwell gains new security capabilities

Northwell Health has a project underway to unlock new security features from its existing hardware. New licenses with Motorola Solutions in Chicago will enable security teams across the New York-based health care system to speed security response.

Mark Swensen, senior manager of operations security, safety and emergency management at Northwell Health, explains that the system is upgrading to a new digital platform to integrate its Avigilon IP surveillance cameras with two-way radios and the Rave Alert mass notification system. Alongside this integration, the team has upgraded its cameras to leverage onboard analytics. The use of video analytics means cameras can be programmed to detect anomalies and potential security threats. In the event an anomaly is detected, integration across the system enables alerts to be sent out in real-time via email, text message and, now, two-way radios.

Swensen says using video analytics allows hospitals to move security officers from static posts, freeing them to patrol higher-risk areas inside the hospital. For example, he notes, “Instead of having an officer standing out front watching cars to make sure nobody parks illegally, now our cameras can ‘notice’ an illegally parked car and set off an alert. That alert is transmitted to our radios, and then a human knows to go outside and check it.”

The best part, Swensen adds, is these advantages are possible using existing infrastructure. “By changing software and licenses, we were able to convert it into a system that gives us a lot more resources,” he says.

The trunked radio system features a distributed architecture that centralizes control while optimizing routing for voice and data traffic. As Swensen explains, “It used to be that if you had a repeater [or range extender] dedicated to just the security group, and the security group wasn’t talking, the repeater just sat there idle. Now we have two or three repeaters that handle traffic digitally. They act as a ‘traffic cop’ by assigning resources when it’s needed in order to support many conversations.”

He adds, “Instead of having one repeater [or range extender] for one department, I now have two or three repeaters in my building and multiple departments — engineering, security, patient experience, etc. — can have their own channels.”

The centralized system provides a responsive user experience. It comes equipped with built-in tools, giving users full visibility into the system’s operation.

This unified technology approach also means Northwell can seamlessly integrate new facilities into the network without compatibility issues. To date, Northwell Health has completed upgrades at three of its 21 hospitals