Biometric Security for Hospitals

Biometric security is another science-fiction premise brought to life. The idea of using facial authentication and fingerprints to secure a building was once relegated to spy movies, yet everything from cell phones to office buildings now uses biometrics. But what about hospitals?

Why do hospitals need access control?

Hospitals are semipublic buildings that see hundreds, even thousands, of patients, staff members, and visitors every day. Although hospitals serve as a public resource, they still require access control to protect those within the building.

Violence in hospitals is an ongoing issue, as we’ve discussed previously. One step toward reducing violence against staff and patients — particularly from visitors — is by limiting access to the hospital. Access control doesn’t necessarily limit outside access to the building itself. Rather, it can be used to control who has access to various sectors of the hospital. This prevents patients and visitors from wandering into places they shouldn’t be and limits a potential wrongdoer’s ability to reach targets.

Newborns are especially vulnerable when access isn’t controlled. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 41.8% of infant kidnappings from 1964 to 2021 occurred in hospitals. Many of these abductions were carried out by someone impersonating a doctor.

Access control also reduces thievery. Loss prevention is a concern for hospitals, as they contain high-value equipment and controlled substances. Limiting access to these materials greatly reduces their risk of being stolen.

Finally, access control further protects personally identifiable information (PII) of staff and patients alike.

Why biometric security?

Access control for hospitals is a meaningful investment, but why biometric security in particular? There are many advantages to utilizing biometrics over — or in tandem with — traditional security measures.

Unlike traditional access control methods, biometric access can’t be easily lost or forgotten. Forgetting a passcode or losing a security badge is a more common issue. Lost badges are a particularly frequent problem. Biometrics minimize or even eliminate this risk.

Unlike passwords and badges, biometrics are virtually impossible to fake. While a password or badge might be shared, found, or stolen, an individual’s biometrics are inherently unique to that person, significantly reducing the risk of impersonation.

Biometric access also can be layered with traditional access control methods for additional security. Combining these efforts makes it so, even if one method is bypassed, the other prevents unauthorized access. These strategies of multifactor authentication and redundancy will improve a hospital’s overall security.

What are the security options?

There are many options for biometric access control. Facial authentication technology creates a 3D map of an individual’s face, which is then compared to the faces of those attempting access to a controlled area. If there’s a match, access is granted. This option is touchless and frictionless, which are major advantages in a healthcare facility.

Alcatraz AI offers facial authentication coupled with tailgate detection. Tailgating is the practice of an unauthorized person following an approved person into a controlled area. The moment in a spy movie where the protagonist catches a closing door before it can latch is an example of tailgating. It can occur with or without the knowledge of the staff member being followed. Tailgate detection, such as that offered by Alcatraz AI, identifies and reports these potential security breaches to the access control system (ACS).    

Fingerprints are an increasingly unpopular biometric option, but they have their benefits. For example, fingerprints are unique even in identical twins, so there’s no risk of two individuals being so close in appearance as to confuse a security access point. But the resemblance in identical twins is rarely close enough in adults to fool facial authentication software.

Fingerprint scanning is not a hands-free method, making it less than ideal in a healthcare setting, where the risk of infection is higher. Fingerprint identification should be limited to combination with passcode entry or access to certain sensitive, but rarely used, records.

Hospital security is a serious concern demanding a serious solution. Biometric security is an effective security solution that can help healthcare teams prevent trespassing, impersonation, and tailgating — among other security threats. As such, biometrics offer a safe and secure solution for hospital access control.

To learn more about integrated security and life safety solutions for your healthcare facility, contact sgranillo@TRLSystems.com.