Chicomm Blog

This season’s sleek accessory also happens to be one of the most revolutionary tech innovations: the TLK 25 is a body-worn device that is helping leaders in hospitality, retail, healthcare, and education stay connected and secure.

Healthcare facilities are busy, complicated environments. One of the biggest challenges is knowing who’s entering and exiting. Clinics and hospitals have many points of entry, like delivery areas, emergency, and possible places for maintenance and staff to leave the building. With all this activity, how do healthcare facilities monitor who’s coming and going in order to keep patients and staff safe?

Hospitals are dynamic, unpredictable environments. And communication systems have always been critical for them to function efficiently and smoothly. 

Since the COVID‑19 pandemic overwhelmed hospitals around the country, these life‑or‑death situations are even more common. Communication has become ever more complex, with crowded hospitals and the need to screen visitors and patients for signs of the virus.

One of the most satisfying parts of my job at Chicago Communications is helping clients such as health care organizations and school systems create centralized security systems that integrate voice, video surveillance and data analytics.

For these customers, having a centralized command center makes all the difference, allowing them to operate security operations at multiple locations.

Hospitals are incredibly fast‑paced work environments. New lifesaving technologies are developed each year. Life‑or‑death crises arrive in the Emergency Room each day unannounced. And the grind continues 24/7. 

It seems there is never a good time to update your hospital building's secure communication systems. Rewiring networks or going offline for even a moment can have serious repercussions. So what can you do to ensure your hospital team can connect quickly and reliably on a moment's notice?

Considering updating your networks to 100% wireless coverage.

Step into any business or organization these days, and you'll expect to be connected to the building's WiFi network. Connectivity is considered standards anywhere from hotels and restaurants to public parks and, yes, hospitals. But when it comes to healthcare facilities, coverage for all devices—medical devices, cell phones, two‑way radios, and more—is about more than convenience. The ability to swiftly communicate with others could be a matter of life and death. 

In a 2006 article in The Clinical Biochemist Reviews, Dr. Enrico Coiera wrote, "Indeed if information is the lifeblood of healthcare then communication systems are the heart that pumps it. Yet, while there is significant discussion of, and investment in, information technologies, communication systems receive much less attention."

Though technology has evolved rapidly since that article was published, healthcare communication systems are just as important as ever. While hospital apps and patient portals improve users' experiences with their healthcare providers, staff‑to‑staff communication is essential to providing top‑notch care in a timely manner.

Below, we review why off‑site communications equipment is necessary and how to find the best equipment for your organization's off‑site communication needs.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare facilities of all types and sizes have begun revisiting emergency preparedness plans. Thankfully, hospital management does not need to reinvent the wheel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers clear guidance on emergency preparedness, including helpful resources for each type of healthcare facility’s contingency plans in the face of public health emergencies.  

Hospitals present a unique set of security challenges. Spaces must feel safe and welcoming for patients and visitors while also offering privacy to those who have been admitted. Both patient and employee wings must maintain strict security while complying with rigid codes of confidentiality and conduct. 

So how can you maximize the day‑to‑day benefits and risk mitigation functions of your hospital security cameras?

Across the country, leaders are improving collaboration in healthcare through communications technology, and having a direct impact on patient experience, cyber security, and facility security.