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Wireless technology is all around us, both in our personal lives and in professional applications. When it comes to creating a safe and connected school environment, this technology works wonders. Share images from a laptop to a projector instantly. Install smart cameras that automatically store data in the cloud. Log into class virtually—and seamlessly.

With the help of Metropolitan Communications, you can integrate all the wireless technology in your school. Our team of highly trained technicians can help you design, install, and maintain a custom wireless communications system that keeps everyone connected. Our expertise covers several kinds of communications solutions, including:

• Two-way radios
• Phone lines
• Video surveillance systems
• Secure data storage
• Signal-boosting systems, such as BDA/DAS technology

Metropolitan Communications works in the Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA; New Castle County, DE; as well as the Gloucester and Camden County, NJ, areas. We offer 24/7 tech support to make sure schools always have the systems they need to stay up and running at their best.

Why Your School Needs Wireless Integration

Wireless integration in schools keeps operations under one umbrella. For instance, if suspicious activity in a video surveillance feed triggers a security alert, an integrated wireless communications solution will guarantee that everyone will get that notification, whether it’s in the form of a radio message, an online alert, or a phone call.

Ensuring interoperability between various methods of communication means that day-to-day operations flow more smoothly. Managing a school requires coordination among teams and clear expectations, all of which are improved with wireless integration.

An efficient communications system facilitates daily operations, and more importantly, it helps in case of an emergency. When administrators and staff can reach each other quickly, schools can solve problems as they come up and potentially help prevent them in the first place.

Streamline communications and save time in case of a critical incident by integrating all of your wireless technology. With less time spent on coordinating communications, it is easier than ever to focus on what matters most: providing the best education possible in a safe and productive environment.

Two-Way Radios for Your School or District

One major component of wireless integration is the implementation of two-way radios. In an unexpected situation, two-way radios provide immediate and clear wireless communication with the push of one button. Their durable construction, long battery life, and emergency features make them a great option for school staff who are tasked with keeping others safe.

Two-Way Radios for Bus Drivers

With a base station at a dispatch center and two-way radios in every bus, long-range two-way radios help bus drivers coordinate routes and communicate traffic issues.

We often recommend the Motorola XPR 5000e series for school bus drivers. This mobile radio provides clear and safe messaging with ambient-noise cancellation and hands-free operation. Plus, with Text-to-Speech technology, drivers can keep their eyes on the road while still staying connected. Analog and digital capabilities make it quick and easy to integrate this radio into a legacy suite, keeping everything under one umbrella as communications needs change.

Two-Way Radios for Teachers and Staff

Integrating wireless communications for schools is easy with the right equipment. Metropolitan Communications is proud to partner with several leading radio manufacturers, including Kenwood.

We often recommend the Kenwood NX-1300 Digital UHF Radio for schools. It’s compatible with different radio brands that operate on the same frequency, so it integrates seamlessly with legacy equipment. The highly capable NX-1300 can also operate on analog or digital technology, delivering clear audio every time, no matter what.

Safety features like the Lone Worker function monitor users’ whereabouts, which helps staff who don’t always have co-workers close by. Coaches in the field, maintenance personnel in the basement, and everyone in between can know that no matter what, someone else can find them. This kind of assurance helps with the day to day, and it also helps in emergency situations, like during a fire drill.

Two-Way Radios for Administrators

Principals and administrators are often the first people others turn to in an emergency, acting as a bridge between a school and first responders. As such, they can benefit greatly from P25 radios. P25 radios, or Project 25 radios, are two-way radios that conform to a suite of communications guidelines for public safety. P25-certified radios are interoperable with several public safety agencies, like law enforcement, fire departments, and Emergency Medical Services.

For school administrators, we also recommend the Kenwood NX-5000 Series. These triple-digital radios combine the power of three digital Common Air Interfaces: P25, as well as NXDN and DMR. In addition to digital interoperability, they also provide FM analog capabilities and interoperability with legacy radios.

These highly interoperable radios are a great fit for wireless integration in schools because they work with both existing tech and cutting-edge digital systems. Best of all for busy principals, operation is intuitive. Two-way radios in the Kenwood NX-5000 Series can receive several kinds of wireless signals, and in turn, automatically send the user’s response in the same mode received. This high-tech P25 radio from Kenwood saves time when it matters most.

Two-Way Radios vs Cell Phones

Most people take their smartphones with them everywhere. They’re all-in-one tools that help people make calls, as well as check emails, send texts, and more. However, when it comes to a school’s wireless integration plan, personal cell phones don’t get the job done as well as two-way radios do.

For one, cell phones are less durable. Unlike two-way radios, they are not designed to withstand inclement weather, extreme temperatures, or impacts with the ground.

In addition, they require more time to send the same message. With a two-way radio, one-touch talk means instantaneous communication with no effort. With a smartphone, making a call requires unlocking the phone, dialing a number, and waiting for someone to answer. Two-way radios field direct communication without the worry of missing a call.

Cost is another factor to consider. Any communications solution that a school adopts will have to work with school budgets. Cell phones require a large investment up front, and then they also require service plans and contracts, which add up quickly. Conversely, investing in two-way radios means opting for a communications solution that lets you hit the ground running—no added expenses or fees for the school.

Integrating Phone Lines

Two-way radios are a great fit for streamlining day-to-day operations, but that doesn’t mean phones can’t be part of a wireless integration plan. Phone calls are one of the most common ways that parents get in touch with schools, so including phone lines in your wireless integration plan helps schools and guardians stay in touch.

With a streamlined, integrated phone solution, it is easier and faster than ever to maximize productivity. From computer-aided call-routing systems to voicemail storage and record management, Metropolitan Communications has decades of experience upgrading telecommunications and designing custom solutions.

Then, our Interconnect Gateway radio systems make it easy to seamlessly connect phone lines with radio channels, making them interoperable. A gateway works by connecting incompatible radio systems through specialized hardware without significant changes to pre-existing radio infrastructure. This way, as a school’s needs grow and change, it’s possible to keep communications consistent even as equipment needs fluctuate.

Video Surveillance

High-Tech Cameras: Do More with Less

Another integral part of wireless integration involves video surveillance. With high-definition cameras and cutting-edge sensors, it’s easier than ever to monitor schools for safety. Metropolitan Communications is proud to partner with Avigilon, a Motorola Solutions company that creates cutting-edge security solutions.

Some of the best cameras and sensors are those that cover wide ranges with low profiles to keep them safe from tampering. The Avigilon H5A Fisheye Camera is a great fit for schools in areas like cafeterias because it offers 360-degree coverage with no blind spots.

Another useful product is the Avigilon Presence Detector. In areas where a camera is inappropriate, such as in restrooms or locker rooms, a presence detector can locate a human presence, even if the person is hidden or obstructed by objects such as blankets, drywall, wood, or cardboard.

In an emergency situation, a presence detector saves time for school staff and first responders. Instead of manually searching an area, a presence detector can point safety personnel directly to a person in need. Schools often have hundreds, if not thousands, of students to account for. Use a presence detector to make sure everyone’s where they need to be.

Analytic Video Surveillance Software

Often, what’s behind the camera is just as important as what’s in front of it. With high-tech, artificial intelligence software, schools can save time and money in assessing potential threats and responding proactively. Integrate a video surveillance program into a school’s emergency response plan to keep students and staff safer than ever.

Avigilon offers state-of-the-art artificial intelligence software that makes it possible to search through video footage as easily as searching for a page on the internet. For instance, the Avigilon Appearance Search can quickly locate a person or vehicle of interest by comparing video footage to an uploaded photo or by entering physical descriptions. Instead of scouring through hours of footage, operators using this advanced technology can search based on a person’s clothing color, gender, and age range.

For schools with many campuses, Avigilon Appearance Search can cross-reference those locations, too, seamlessly integrating wireless communications for schools.

Many other cutting-edge video analytic solutions are available from Avigilon. Metropolitan Communications is here to help schools integrate this technology into their wireless communications plan.

Data: Secure Private Networks and Cloud-Based Storage

All this data needs somewhere to live. Wireless integration in schools should include a private and secure network.

In the past, storing data meant using physical tapes and bulky records. Now, however, wireless integration for schools means turning to cloud-based solutions. Whereas physical storage solutions limit the amount of information an institution can store, an encrypted online storage solution provides virtually unlimited storage options. You can hold on to records for years, and because cloud-based solutions are easily navigable, access whatever you need at any time.

Access whatever you need from anywhere too. As remote learning becomes more commonplace, students will need to keep more of their educational materials digital and readily accessible from anywhere. Cloud-based storage creates a bridge between in-person and online learning and extends wireless integration to anywhere education happens, not just the classroom.

Outside of hybrid learning, cloud-based storage for educational materials still helps streamline learning. Teachers can assign homework, send feedback, and update grades all in one system. Students and parents can access it all from the comfort of home.

Metropolitan Communications offers wireless data systems, as well as broadband to help schools operate their integrated systems and keep them secure.

Additional Infrastructure

Sometimes, additional infrastructure is required to guarantee seamless wireless integration.

Poor wireless signals have many causes, but the effects are the same: reduced communications. In an emergency, an unreliable signal isn’t an option. In-building signal boosters can help. In-building signal boosters make sure that external wireless signals can reach throughout all areas of a building.

Luckily, Metropolitan Communications has decades of experience in diagnosing wireless communications issues, as well as designing, installing, and maintaining in-building signal-boosting solutions.

Bi-Directional Amplifiers, or BDAs

If you’ve ever had trouble sending a text while in an elevator or hearing a radio call clearly in a basement, it’s most likely because a wireless signal can’t extend to these hard-to-reach places. When this is the case, a Bi-Directional Amplifier, or BDA, can help. These antennas take an existing signal and enhance its strength.

As part of a plan to integrate wireless communications in schools, having BDAs in more secluded areas of the building will make sure that no matter where school staff are, they’ll be connected to everything else that’s going on.

Distributed Antenna Systems, or DAS

Another cause of poor wireless signals is a lack of capacity. For instance, if you’ve ever been along a crowded parade route and experienced a dip in cell reception, it’s because a high concentration of cell phone users in one area overwhelmed local cell towers.

The same thing can happen in schools, too, especially since most students have their own personal cell phones. To prevent overloading cell towers, a Distributed Antenna System, or DAS, solution in a building can increase cell phone wireless capacity.

A Distributed Antenna System will take an existing signal from outside and disseminate it throughout the building, often employing Bi-Directional Amplifiers to extend coverage to hard-to-reach areas.

In-building signal boosters work for specific kinds of signals, so a cell reception BDA/DAS only works for cell phones, and a radio signal BDA/DAS only works for radio signals. Many enterprises find it beneficial to employ both.

Legal Communications Requirements

Not only do BDAs help with day-to-day operations, but they are also often legally required for public safety purposes. In case of an emergency, first responders need to be able to communicate with each other from anywhere in or outside of a building.

There are a few regulatory bodies that oversee legal requirements for in-building signal boosters:

• International Fire Code: The IFC-510 requires 95% in-building wireless signal coverage with a minimum signal strength of -95 dB.
• National Fire Protection Association: NFPA 72 Chapter 24 requires 90% in-building coverage as well as 99% coverage for critical areas like elevator lobbies, exit stairs and passageways, and fire pump rooms.
• Federal Communications Committee: The FCC requires certain radio channels, usually within the 600 MHz to 900 MHz range, be kept clear for first responders. Your signal-boosting system must be able to support these bandwidths.

In the same way technology is always growing and changing, so are legal requirements surrounding wireless communications. Luckily, we have experts on hand to help you navigate local fire codes; in fact, our technicians are FCC certified.

Case Study: Wireless Integration

Metropolitan Communications recently partnered with a school district in the Greater Philadelphia area to improve in-building wireless communications for public safety, boosting radio signals to make them more compatible with first responders’ systems.

Before working with Metropolitan Communications, hard-to-reach areas of schools had little to no coverage, presenting a safety risk in case of an emergency. After our expert technicians designed and installed BDAs, local law enforcement tested the wireless signal strength and deemed the results “very positive,” saying that the wireless coverage issue “has been resolved.”

Integrating the school’s coverage into the broader first responder network added extra peace of mind for school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents. It also helped the district comply with ever-evolving legal requirements surrounding safety protocols.

Contact Metropolitan Communications Today!

Wireless integration in schools is the answer to creating an environment that is as safe and productive as possible when it comes to both day-to-day operations, as well as unexpected events.

Metropolitan Communications is a leading integrated wireless solutions provider that sells, supports, designs, and installs communications systems. We work in the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA; New Castle County, DE; as well as Gloucester and Camden County, NJ.

Reach out today to see how we can help your school integrate your wireless communications under one system.

In a rapidly changing world, one thing remains constant: the need for safety in schools.

Ensuring a safe learning environment through proper video surveillance has never been more intuitive or streamlined. Gone are the days of security guards trying to muddle through grainy footage. Now, intelligent security camera solutions combine video surveillance with security notifications, video analysis, and storage management—all in one integrated system.

Metropolitan Communications is here to show you how we can install state-of-the-art security technology and help keep schools safe through our partnership with Avigilon. We proudly serve the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA. We also assist areas outside of PA, including Gloucester and Camden County in NJ and New Castle County, DE.

Security Solutions We Offer

We specialize in Avigilon systems. Avigilon is a leading surveillance technology enterprise that makes it easy for you to capture, store, and navigate high-definition video surveillance recordings. Their streamlined approach to security makes ensuring the safety of students and staff simpler than ever.

With end-to-end solutions from Avigilon, video is captured, stored, analyzed, and maintained all in one easy-to-manage, integrated system. There are custom solutions for every school, but the basics of an Avigilon security system includes:

• Security Cameras
• Analytic Technology
• Data Retrieval Software
• Cloud-Based Data Management

Cameras for Your Needs

Cameras are most effective when they’re monitoring the most important areas. In a school, that means areas like the entrances and exits, stairwells, hallways, and front offices, along with protected areas where confidential files are stored.

Avigilon offers state-of-the-art, high-definition cameras, which the Metropolitan Communications team can expertly install for you. Some of the most effective surveillance cameras for schools include:

• H5A Corner Camera: This no-grip, impact-rated camera attaches to corners, making it an effective way to monitor a large room, like a cafeteria. Plus, its durability means it can survive even the most extreme attempts to detach, dismantle, or disable it.
• H5A Dual Head Camera: Like the H5A Corner Camera, this high-strength surveillance solution can monitor a large area and minimize blind spots. As an added bonus, it offers Next-Generation Video Analytic capabilities.
• H4 Video Intercom: Using this intercom, front-office attendants can remotely see, talk to, and allow or deny building access to anyone at the school’s doors.

These are only some of the video surveillance cameras that Metropolitan Communications can install for you. To learn more, reach out today!

Behind the Camera: State-of-the-Art Technology

Capturing images is only the start of an effective security system. Avigilon Control Center (ACC) software contains technologies that make it possible to recognize specific objects and faces, as well as detect unusual motion.

Not only that, but this software autonomously sends alerts when it detects events that may warrant attention. In the words of Dr. Saptharishi, Chief Technology Officer of Avigilon, these technologies are valuable because “only the interesting events get presented to you.” Instead of manning a security desk after hours, let technology work for you.

Here are some of the technologies offered through ACC and how they can benefit you:

Next-Generation Video Analytics

This self-learning software enables the tracking and classification of over 50 objects, whether they are moving or stationary. These objects include bicycles, cars, buses, and trucks, making this software an excellent addition to schools, where students can come and go via various modes of transportation.

Facial Recognition

Create watch lists using uploaded photos or appearance parameters, and this AI-powered software can send an alert if it detects someone specific. Since Avigilon values privacy, as well as safety, this technology is assistive and only functional for helping organizations that are already authorized to scan faces.

Unusual Motion Detection (UMD)

After school hours, school hallways and campuses should be empty—and Unusual Motion Detection makes sure you know if they’re not. This technology works with H4 platform Avigilon cameras to learn movement patterns and detect when there is activity outside the norm. Unusual activity can mean people walking very late at night, cars moving erratically, a person loitering in an unusual spot, and more.

Avigilon Appearance Search™

The cameras are installed, and the recordings are in process. Security cameras, especially ones that run full-time, generate seemingly endless hours of data. When it’s time to find specific video footage, how do you start?

With Avigilon Appearance Search™, instead of combing through hours of footage, you can have what you need right away.

Easily search for specific criteria in seconds, much like using an internet browser to find the exact webpage you need. As part of an integrated security solution, this analytic technology makes it possible to search video footage for a person or vehicle of interest based on physical description. The technology can also compare an uploaded photo of a subject to surveillance camera footage.

These ACC technologies work in tandem to maximize safety while minimizing labor. Without these cutting-edge technologies, monitoring school safety takes longer and is less effective.

Data Storage and Management

All this high-definition video footage and cutting-edge software requires an advanced management strategy. Avigilon Cloud Services (ACS) makes it easier than ever to store and manage the data from your Avigilon Control Center (ACC) sites. ACS features include:

• Access from Anywhere: Since the data is securely stored in the cloud, authorized users can retrieve and assess this data remotely, including from a secure ACC app. This access includes an easy-to-read dashboard with smart filters to streamline monitoring.
• Seamless User Provisioning: Schools often have many administrators and staff who need access to security footage. ACC group privileges make it possible for team members to view and access information simultaneously.
• Maintenance Services and Continuous Updates: Technology evolves all the time. With troubleshooting tools and automatic updates, your security system stays at its best.

In addition to all these helpful features and more, Metropolitan Communications offers 24/7 tech support for all the systems we install! Whether you experience an outage or need an expert to walk you through our integrated software systems, our team is here for you.

Security Cameras for Schools: A Case Study

Billings School District, Montana

Middle schools across the country often face issues with vandalism, graffiti, and bullying. This was certainly the case in the Billings School District of Montana, which suffered high crime rates that were difficult to resolve or prevent.

School administrators turned to security systems from Avigilon for help. With high-tech cameras that could detect individuals, school staff were able to catch perpetrators and verify testimonies when students’ accounts differed after incidents, such as fights.

In addition to making it easier to remedy difficult situations, this technology also helped prevent issues before they began. With technology that could detect unusual behaviors, school staff could intervene and de-escalate instances of bullying.

Outside of inter-student conflicts, the security system also detected a building contractor who failed to lock a door upon leaving, which resulted in a subsequent break-in. With this proof, the school did not have to take on the financial liability of the damage.

A complete Avigilon video surveillance solution that includes video analytics, ACC software, and Avigilon Appearance Search™ technology can help combat and prevent issues in your school too.

Installation and Maintenance

Avigilon offers unparalleled technology and services, which is why we’re so proud to work with them. At Metropolitan Communications, we install these systems and are on call for anything you need.

Installing security cameras for schools is simple. It starts with an inspection, where we determine your needs and find the best streamlined solution for you.

For installation, we’ll make sure to consider high-traffic areas, as well as secluded areas in the building and on its grounds. Ideal locations for security cameras include hallways, the front desk, classrooms, fields, stairwells, secluded areas, cafeterias, and more. Our expertise means we can recommend the best cameras and software packages for your needs.

Once the security cameras and other infrastructure are in place, our part isn’t done—we’re still around for 24/7 tech support.

Contact Metropolitan Communications Today!

Our technicians have over 90 years of combined experience, and they constantly undergo new training to stay experts.

We work with schools in Bucks County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We help schools stay safe in other states too. Our service areas also include Gloucester and Camden County in New Jersey, as well as in New Castle County, Delaware.

For all your security camera needs in the Greater Philadelphia area, Metropolitan Communications is here to help. Contact us today!

Once your inspection and installation are complete, we are still here for you. In fact, we offer 24/7 support for all your needs, along with our data management systems.

Case Studies

Don’t just take our word for it—see how we have helped others in the area.

Education

Nothing is more important than our children’s safety. Safety can be challenging in many schools, where concentrated populations and thick concrete walls can negatively affect signal capacity and coverage. That’s why Metropolitan Communications partnered with public safety officials and school district administrators in Southeastern PA to improve signal strength in schools.

Our experts reviewed, designed, and installed in-building NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) compliant solutions. After implementing their new signal-boosting solution, communications signals now reach previously hard-to-cover areas. According to local law enforcement, the results are “very positive.”

Healthcare

Our expert teams recently created a custom BDA solution for a local healthcare system to improve patient care and security.

In addition to being tested and approved by local first responders, the system also helped the healthcare facility by implementing a web-based notification system. This system provides email, text, or voice notifications in the event of a system issue. With this helpful automation in place, healthcare providers can spend more attention on patient care and worry less about communication problems in the event of an emergency.

Reach out to Metropolitan Communications Today!

No matter what, we can ensure that all our BDA/DAS solutions will be code-compliant, expertly installed, and consistently tested. We are ready to serve the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA; Gloucester and Camden County, NJ; and New Castle County, DE.

Whether you work in public safety, education, healthcare, or another vital industry, our team is ready to partner with yours. To learn more about how we can help you keep your wireless communications efficient and compliant, reach out for a consultation and a quote today!

 

People trust medical professionals with their health and their lives. To offer the best care possible, hospitals must be safe and secure.

On top of guaranteeing patient health and safety, hospital administrators must also consider business operations and legal regulations. As such, they need the best in security cameras to keep operations running smoothly. Not only can a security system help ensure patient care and safety, but it can also protect the hospital legally.

Metropolitan Communications is here to show you how end-to-end surveillance solutions from Avigilon can streamline your security protocols, from video recording and encryption to data organization and storage.

We’re proud to serve the Greater Philadelphia area, which includes healthcare facilities in Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, PA. Our expertise also extends over state lines to New Castle County, DE; Gloucester, NJ; and Camden County, NJ.

Streamlined Security Solutions

How Avigilon Technology Can Help You

Metropolitan Communications works with Avigilon to offer easy-to-install, user-friendly, and scalable end-to-end security solutions. An Avigilon security solution can make it faster and easier than ever to:

• Keep patients well cared for
• Prevent unauthorized patient departures
• Collect evidence in the case of a liability investigation
• Ensure accountability for medical staff

Hospital administrators and medical professionals have enough to focus on. Security solutions from Avigilon can help these teams spend less time monitoring potential security risks, leaving more time for providing the best healthcare possible.

Components of a Streamlined Solution

An end-to-end solution is just what it sounds like—a system that provides everything you need from beginning to end. Every situation is unique, and different packages will work better for some than others. Streamlined solutions from Avigilon consist of:

• High-definition cameras and sensors
• Intelligent software
• Secure data storage

Security Cameras for Your Needs

Metropolitan Communications installs several kinds of Avigilon cameras, which offer high-definition video, optional audio that can be engaged as needed, and other advanced capabilities. Plus, most come partnered with Avigilon software, so security personnel can utilize footage more effectively. Some of the best cameras for hospitals include:

• H4 Cameras: The H4 Thermal Camera can detect body heat in complete darkness and low-visibility situations, like through smoke. The H4 Thermal Elevated Temperature Detection takes this technology a step further and provides contactless pre-screening to detect elevated skin temperatures. Monitoring for fevers from a distance helps keep hospital staff and patients safe and can be useful in assessing changes in a patient’s health status.
• H5A Camera Line: This line of sleek and low-profile cameras comes with Avigilon Appearance Search™ capabilities, which makes it possible to search footage for a specific person. As an added bonus, these cameras are easy to clean and difficult to dismantle.
• FIPS Series Avigilon Network Video Recorders: Privacy is a priority in hospitals. This line of video recorders provides secure data-in-flight cryptography that meets FIPS 140-2 requirements.

Another security device that can benefit hospitals is the Avigilon Presence Detector. It is not a camera, but it detects people’s presence using radar. Its equipped self-learning analytics means it can scan, “learn,” and adapt to monitor usual and unusual activity. This is helpful for hospitals because it can help security staff monitor areas with an added layer of privacy for patients.

Behind the Camera: Avigilon Control Center™ Software

A security camera can capture images more sharply than ever before, but without a way to assess footage, security teams can still have trouble analyzing critical events quickly. Thanks to Avigilon Control Center™ (ACC) software, security cameras can now help assess what’s on the screen. Then, the software can send alerts when it registers anything noteworthy.

ACC software offers an expansive suite of capabilities, such as facial recognition, image search license plate detection, unusual activity monitors, and more.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, where providing care and staying safe are more important than ever, ACC can monitor and alert you in real time—no need to wait for a human to notice or have someone scroll through hours of video footage to take decisive action.

Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ACC enhances the effectiveness of high-definition cameras with intelligent monitoring systems that can send notifications as necessary. This software helps ensure COVID-19-compliant practices to keep healthcare centers as safe as possible. These detection technologies include:

• Occupancy Counting Technology
• Social Distancing Technology
• No Face Mask Detection Technology
• Contact Tracing with Access Control

With these smart systems in place, hospitals can better protect their staff and patients. Then, when it comes time to decipher a sequence of events (like in the case of contact tracing), Avigilon Control Center™ software makes it possible for operators to lace different camera views together. This provides a more complete understanding of events in the hospital.

Remote and Centralized Care for Immuno-Compromised Patients

The Mobile Patient Alert & Communications Terminal makes it possible for medical professionals to check in and verify a patient’s condition from the safety of a central location. This reduces the chance of pathogen exposure while continuing to provide the best treatment and care for patients.

Not only is this useful for COVID-19 patients, but remote monitoring helps protect patients with severely compromised immune systems, like those who have suffered extreme burns.

Protecting Patients’ Privacy: FIPS Regulations

Ensuring privacy helps ease a patient’s mind and keeps a hospital compliant with legal regulations surrounding how information is shared and stored. The FIPS Series Avigilon Network Video Recorders offer pre-hardened encryption to make sure your data meets federal statutes.

FIPS stands for Federal Information Processing Standards, which come from the National Institute of Standards and Technology office of the United States Department of Commerce. They set standards for cryptographic-based security systems.

FIPS compliance is mandatory in all federal healthcare facilities, but it is also valuable in public and private hospitals because of the high level of security and dependability it ensures.

Integrating Technology

In addition to streamlined video capture, encryption, and organization, Avigilon also partners with Motorola Solutions to incorporate communications technology into security systems.

ACC software includes system alerts, and by syncing with MOTOTRBO and APX P25 two-way radios, it is possible to receive urgent text-to-voice alerts via radio. With this integration, security personnel can acknowledge alerts on the go.

This integrated technology solution equips your security team to:

• Monitor live video on a continuous basis, even with limited resources or time
• Be aware of all potential and occurring security incidents
• Mobilize security resources in a timely manner when a potential security incident is detected

With the capabilities that come with ACC, such as facial recognition and license plate detection, security personnel can be informed of potential issues as soon as possible. As with most situations in a hospital, taking security action as quickly as possible is a must.

Case Study

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Connecticut faced problems that are common in many hospitals, like liability concerns and patient elopement. Unfortunately, their outdated security system made it difficult to investigate claims and track persons of interest.

Avigilon improved their system with a streamlined approach, installing over 100 cameras. Many were from the H4 line of cameras, which provide exceptional image quality. Then, with Avigilon Appearance Search™ technology to assess camera footage, security staff could easily locate persons of interest.

In places where video cameras were not an option, like restrooms, the hospital relied on the Avigilon Presence Detector. Its smart-sensing technology made it possible to keep track of people’s locations without affecting their privacy.

With high-definition cameras, presence detectors, smart software, and an encrypted storage solution, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is now able to address investigations and improve safety. Now, they can spend more time on providing the best healthcare possible.

Contact Metropolitan Communications Today!

In a field where mistakes are costly, the extra assurance from video surveillance solutions provides immense peace of mind. That’s why we at Metropolitan Communications are proud to partner with Avigilon to keep hospitals safe.

Healthcare facilities in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas, like Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, Pennsylvania; New Castle County, Delaware; and Gloucester and Camden County, New Jersey, can all benefit from state-of-the-art security solutions. Reach out today to see how we can help you and your hospital.