Failure to monitor these areas can lead to equipment or prescription drug theft, employee assaults, mistakes with patient medications, confidential patient information being compromised or even ambulances being entered without permission.

But it is the sheer number of doors and cabinets within a medical facility that makes this a complex issue. What is required is a means of controlling access at any and all of these points despite thousands of employees that have different job duties, restricted areas, and work hours. Fortunately, with today’s access control systems, this can best be achieved via the establishment of an integrated system, one that can run off a medical facility’s existing IT network.

Although video surveillance camera systems have been IP-based for many years – meaning they are connected directly into existing IT networks using standard cabling – the access control industry initially lagged behind in transitioning to this technology.

In fact, until recently, video surveillance and access control systems were installed completely independently and custom software often had to be created to allow communication and integration between systems or even with an IT network.

“Until a few years ago, security cameras and access control systems were completely separate and often proprietary,” says Charles Crenshaw, CEO of ISONAS Security Systems. “This meant incompatible installations, separate management software and multiple maintenance contracts.”

Fortunately, today’s access control systems are increasingly IP-based. By piggybacking on the existing network and its cabling, facility managers and security personnel can quickly and easily install door access readers to a common network switch with standard cables.

If the network switch has a built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) feature – a common feature – it can even supply power to door access readers through the CAT-5 cabling, with no need to tap into building power. Comprehensive access control management software is then used to manage an unlimited number of readers from a single, web-enabled interface.

“IP-based access control systems reduce installation costs. That, combined with the continuing reduction in the cost of door access readers means the ‘cost per door’ has dropped significantly over the past five years,” says Crenshaw. “It is also much more scalable, so it’s very easy to start in one area and expand into other areas as needs expand or funding becomes available.”