Sterling Regional Medical Center Installs Schlage Computer-Managed (CM) Locks to Protect Patients, Employees and Assets
CM Locks Reduce Costs, Heighten Security in Key Hospital Areas
FORESTVILLE, CONN. – September 09, 2003 – IR Security & Safety’s Electronic Access Control Division (EACD) today announced that Sterling Regional MedCenter of Colorado is using 38 Schlage “Locknetics on Board” computer managed (CM) locking systems to secure sensitive areas and provide increased security for employees and patients.
"Initially, the main purpose of switching to electronic locks was to control access to labor and delivery rooms,” reports Tracey Knox, a certified locksmith and Sterling Regional Medical Center employee. “We wanted to be able to lock them down at night. Now all drug rooms, laboratories, IT, medical imaging and main corridors have computer managed locks to regulate access for all hospital personnel."
IR Security & Safety’s computer-managed (CM) standalone locking products provide features traditionally offered only in online, networked systems. The locks, access trim, and offline hard-wired controllers can all be programmed with user-friendly software from a laptop or PDA, regardless of what credential system is used. New users, access points and access privileges can be entered into the system in seconds. The stand-alone, battery-operated locksets and exit device trim can provide greater than 80,000 uses or two to three years of battery life, virtually eliminating significant maintenance issues.
"We did a security evaluation at the hospital a few years ago and found that people did not feel safe after hours, “Knox explains. “We had locks, but everyone knew the codes. Now, everyone utilizes iButtons, individual key fobs containing microchips, to access the locks. The Palm Pilot I use to program the locks is so light I can walk around the hospital in less than an hour and reprogram all the locks."
Knox adds that the electronic locks have provided Sterling Regional MedCenter significant savings over the past year because they are so simple to reprogram and eliminate expensive re-keying practices every time an employee starts or leaves a job. All Knox has to do is go to his computer to add or take-away access privileges with easy-to-use Windows-based LockLink Express software. It's so fast and simple, he reprograms the locking devices multiple times per week.
The CM locks also provide secure access and audit trails at a much lower cost than traditional hardwired networked access alternatives. With them, Sterling Regional Medical Center not only provides increased security, but also protects key hospital assets by auditing whereabouts. People know that their movements will be tracked so they are less likely to enter areas they are not supposed to be in or to remove hospital property from those areas.
According to Knox, "The initial response from users was, 'Why do we need the security?' There had not been any problems. But I do believe the locks act as a deterrent to theft because of the auditing capabilities.” Now, Knox wants to replace all of the hospital’s older locks with CM locks—a total of about 400 locks.
"I am a die-hard IR fan,” Knox says. “IR's training is also great. Their products just continue to get better."
About Sterling Regional MedCenter
Sterling Regional MedCenter is one of 20 hospitals of the Banner Health System, which is one of the largest not-for-profit health care systems in the country. Sterling Regional MedCenter is a 36-bed acute care facility, with 347 employees and more than 30 physicians representing 10 specialties. It is considered the health care hub of northeastern Colorado. In addition, Banner operates six long-term care centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care services and home medical equipment services in eight western and Midwestern states. Banner Health employs about 21,500 employees, making it one of the country's largest employers.
About IR Security & Safety’s Electronic Access Control Division
Since 1969, IR Security & Safety’s Electronic Access Control Division (EACD) has provided premium electronic access control solutions, including electromagnetic locks, monitoring consoles, electromechanical locks and strikes, electrical and electronic exit devices, power supplies and controllers to security professionals and their customers. Leading brands such as Recognition Systems, Schlage, “Locknetics on Board” and Von Duprin comprise the Electronic Access Control Division of IR Security and Safety, which serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Forestville, Conn. Phone is 866-322-1237. The IR website is www.irco.com.
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