Keeping track of hospital keys is one of the most important security initiatives for every healthcare organization. Lost and misplaced keys can be a catastrophic security risk for hospitals. In addition to limiting access to sensitive, expensive equipment and essential medicines, key control and key management assist in minimizing risk and improving the customer experience in hospitals.

Discover how University Hospital of North Staffordshire Prevents Lost and Stolen Keys

Securely Manage Drugs and Controlled Substances

It is critical to protect controlled substances and medications from theft. Key management systems help protect access to medicine storage and dispensing areas, including opiates and other highly controlled substances while maintaining accurate records of who had access and when.

LEARN MORE IN THIS FREE WHITEPAPER: Understanding Key Control Systems and Best Practices

Through key tracking notifications, management can be more certain that only authorized personnel have access to these materials within the healthcare facility. Implementing key control also helps hospitals adhere to compliance regulations.

Risk Mitigation for Vehicle Fleets

With healthcare fleets including ambulances and other rescue vehicles requiring efficient and speedy deployment, it’s crucial that keys get into the hands of drivers quickly and are protected against theft between runs.

CASE STUDY: Bell Ambulance Company

It’s time-consuming and expensive to replace today’s intelligent vehicle ignition keys, and often requires a rekeying of the vehicle itself, which results in unaffordable downtime and cost. Key management ensures that only the vehicle drivers can access the fleet keys, and can provide notifications when keys are removed and replaced.

Protect Expensive Medical Equipment

Healthcare requires the use of a great deal of expensive and delicate equipment. Key management ensures that only authorized technicians have access to hazardous areas like x-ray and radiation treatment rooms, and protects the facility from liability with notifications when keys are removed. Installing a key management system lowers the risk of having to replace costly equipment and protects facilities from liability if this equipment is damaged or an unauthorized individual is injured.

Reduce the Risk of Elopements

Hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities are often expansive campuses with multiple wards and buildings, each with different staff and equipment. Many of these campuses have wards that are secured against patient elopement. Controlling the keys to these areas helps to protect at-risk patients, as well as to protect the facility from liability.

Protecting high-value asset storage

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff often need to secure belongings, both personal and company-owned, before entering sterile or hazardous areas. Healthcare facilities can keep track of crucial mobile equipment by installing asset management to augment their storage systems. By installing key management systems, users can ensure that their belongings are only accessed by themselves or other permitted users, and they are notified if other access is attempted.

READ HERE: Threat Assessment and Prevention for Healthcare

Implementing a key control and management system can benefit hospitals and healthcare facilities in many ways, helping them maintain focus on what matters most.

We just keep making hospital and healthcare key control better. It’s all part of our outside-the-box thinking – that you’ll find right inside the box.

 

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Other Markets

Cannabis Industry

In a cash-heavy industry with intense regulations, KeyWatcher provides audit trails and tight security so you can remain in compliance.

Fleet Management 

Increase the life and optimize utilization of your expensive investments with key control and vehicle management all in one.