iXP Provides Overall Assessment and Recommendations for Improved Safety and Security at Emory University Hospital Midtown

Sector: Healthcare Campus

Focus: Operations and Technology

Started: Fall 2007

Situation

Emory University Hospital Midtown is one of the nation's premier acute-care teaching hospitals. However, its location creates unique campus safety and security challenges for their Public Safety Department. The Department of Public Safety at Emory University Hospital Midtown provides critical public safety and security services and its mission is "to protect and serve the Emory facilities, customers; patients, visitors, employees, medical staff, tenants and all other persons on hospital property." In an effort to evaluate the existing security environment, Emory University Hospital Midtown engaged iXP Corporation to assess the facilities, security operations, and technology associated with the Department of Public Safety and its Control Center. The goals of engaging iXP were to obtain an independent expert evaluation of the Department's legacy environment and operations, and to develop initial recommendations to better utilize existing technologies and operations to increase the safety and security of the hospital campus.

Solution

Many aspects of technology, operations and facilities in use at the Department of Public Safety's Control Center were examined in an effort to fully comprehend the mission-critical issues the Department faces. Information was obtained through staff interviews, document reviews, and observations of day-to-day operations. In conducting the assessment, iXP reviewed the existing Control Center workspace, equipment, and maintenance; supporting utilities, emergency power, fire suppression; and CCTV, alarms, access control systems, radio communications and telecommunications currently in use. iXP also observed the operational use of the Control Center technologies, current staffing and work load, and reviewed policies, procedures and training programs. iXP and Department of Public Safety representatives also evaluated possible locations for a new Control Center and supporting technology equipment room.

In addition to the Control Center assessment, iXP conducted an assessment of the Department's patrol operation and reviewed the staffing and deployment levels of the patrol staff and work load. They examined policies, procedures, and training programs and also reviewed the benchmarking methods used by the Hospital in regards to staffing and salary levels.

Results

Analysis and evaluation of the data collected allowed iXP to measure the current environment of the Department of Public Safety against the Hospital's goals and vision, in conjunction with accepted industry standards. The resulting recommendations not only provided a baseline assessment of current technologies and operations, but also expectations for future growth. iXP provided recommendations to guide the direction the Department of Public Safety should take before making either capital or operating budget decisions to move forward with integrated and enhanced technologies and operations.

Value Delivered. Problem Solved.