iXP Provides a Comprehensive Assessment for the facilities, security operations, and supporting technology for Lancaster General Hospital

Sector: Healthcare Campus
Focus: Operations, Technology, and Facility
Started: 2007 - 2008

Situation

The Security Department at Lancaster General Hospital provides critical public safety and security services, and its mission is, "To provide a secure and safe environment for our patients, visitors, employees, and staff". In an effort to evaluate the existing security environment, Lancaster General Hospital (LGH) engaged iXP Corporation to assess their facilities, security operations, and supporting technology for the Hospital, the Women and Babies Hospital, the Health Campus and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. iXP was also asked to evaluate the Ambulatory Care Centers and develop a physical security template for lighting, landscaping, maintenance and traffic control that could be applied to current as well as future sites.

Solution

The assessment focused on three fundamental areas: facilities, technologies (telephony, CCTV, etc.), and operations (workload, staffing, etc.). The Security Department, Hospital staff, and iXP worked together in gathering information about the current environment, and in reviewing the five-year plan for upgrade and expansion. The assessment established a baseline on how the Security Department utilized its existing technology and operations to support the service levels required by LGH. Through analysis and evaluation, these findings determined functional and performance requirements and the best possible utilization of existing technology, systems, resources and space. Additionally, the assessment produced recommendations regarding new technology and solutions that LGH can employ to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Security Department operations.

The resulting recommendations were based on numerous criteria including evaluation of the current environment, interviews and discussions with Security Department and Hospital staff, expectations for future growth, industry data and guidelines such as Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), best practices, documentation review, potential risks, and various unique characteristics of the facilities such as the high risk areas. With the five-year plan as a guide, the recommendations suggested the direction the Security Department should take before making either capital or operating budget decisions for moving forward with integrated and enhanced public safety technologies and operations for the institution.

Result

Based on the success and client satisfaction of the initial project, LGH engaged iXP to perform additional assessments. These included an assessment of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (a Single Building), an assessment of some of their Outpatient facilities (Four Buildings) and an assessment of LGH's public safety and security communications center. In continuing their public safety and security enhancements, LGH engaged iXP to perform a comprehensive assessment for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to establish the baseline of how Lancaster General Security Personnel operate via their existing staffing models, policies and procedures, in conjunction with communication technology and the operational facility to support the service levels required. This information helped determine the resources and systems in place to facilitate best-in-class security practices for this facility. Additionally, the assessment produce findings, risks and recommendations regarding operational improvements and new technology solutions that the College could employ to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of its facility and its Security personnel at this location.

In parallel, LGH also engaged iXP to assess the internal and external facility threats and risks for 4 of its ambulatory public access buildings. iXP looked at the structures, facilities, perimeter, entry points and parking lots that make up the ambulatory care center campuses. The analysis examined these aspects and identified any potential risks and hazards that would have a negative impact on the ability of the ambulatory care center(s) to provide a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, and staff at the sites. iXP performed on-site evaluations of the facilities, documented the current findings, identified risks, and recommended technology and operational improvements to increase the security and public safety of the facility.

In addition iXP was asked to complete a thorough assessment focused on the facilities, operations, and technologies associated with their public safety and security communications center which identified the best possible utilization of existing center technology, systems, and staff. iXP also determined the special requirements to facilitate the design of a new communications center, corresponding computer equipment room, and back-up facility. Additionally, the Assessment included a review and recommendations of the Communication Center workload, shift scheduling, policies - procedures, and training.

Value Delivered. Problem Solved.