Clinical PROGRESSION

Jun 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Erin Semple

Connecting satellite buildings to the main campus at the Mayo Clinic involves new technology to meet security demands. The satellite buildings are located five to 15 miles from the clinic's main campus in Rochester, Minn., where the clinic consists of an integrated multi-specialty center and two hospitals, staffed by more than 1,500 physicians.

In 2001, the Rochester clinic began a pilot project for a digital CCTV system — including some 20 cameras in two locations. As the clinic saw benefits from the project, the number of cameras was increased to 120, says Serguei Novitsky, facilities operations senior systems engineer. “This is just the beginning,” he says.

The original security system used a DVR, and the clinic is now migrating to network video recorders and wiping out analog devices, Novitsky says.

“Currently we are going through a major transition from DVR-based technology to network video recorder (NVR) based technology,” he says. “NVRs are no longer the specially-built computers that DVRs were, but off-the-shelf servers supplied by major computer manufacturers. There is a noticeable shift in system support responsibilities — from building infrastructure support groups to IT/information support teams. This requires teamwork of various departments: security, facilities operations and IT/IS, and adaptation as participants expand beyond their ‘comfort zones.’”

Network video recording also allows each camera to become a TCP/IP networked device. Resulting challenges include network management and providing an adequate network bandwidth without negatively impacting other institutional applications. The pilot project has now expanded to around 1,000 cameras.

“These are geographically spread out, and we are using network tools to bring video together and process it in an intelligent way,” Novitsky says. “Bringing all of the security systems together to report to one interface provides redundancies.”

Two of the campuses in Rochester within a two-mile distance currently have analog systems working independently, but when they are integrated, there will be two redundant operations.

“This saves money from the reduction of full-time employees, since only one instead of two officers would be on duty each shift. This would release eight if you multiply it out,” he says. “It also reduces response time, causes our system to be proactive and allows financial saving for the institution.”

When the clinic first decided to begin the pilot project, the digital video market included around 100 vendors; now there are probably at least 500. Novitsky says the clinic was looking for an enterprise-class digital application, so that a camera could be accessed in any fashion. The application also provides a higher level of security inspection and ease-of-use for users and security for others, which Novitsky called “the great driver behind the selection.”

Since it is hard to keep up with dynamic changes in security technology for CCTV and digital system, one must use intelligent system integration. When an alarm happens, all systems need to be working together in automatic mode.

“The medical/research systems and equipment are traditionally the most advanced and sophisticated at Mayo Clinic, in many cases the most advanced (and often unique) systems in a world,” he says. “If we compare the security system with other building infrastructure systems it would be next to the network and data processing infrastructure in its progressiveness. The system is used by Mayo security officers and investigators, although we allow other user groups to benefit from it on a limited and selective basis when their involvement does not jeopardize its role in providing security surveillance.”

In the clinic, video and control signaling circuits from security cameras are connected to the digital components of the system. The system converts those signals into computer format and processes them in various ways. Digitized video is streamed over the network to monitoring stations and hard-drive storage components. Software enables user-friendly, intuitive and interactive presentation of live or recorded video on the workstation PCs. The clinic's security system records only when there is motion, which the system does automatically — it's a configuration that Novitsky calls “effective.”

The CCTV system is an integral part of a larger security technology system, which includes card access system, security intercom system, security patrol and report-keeping systems, Novitsky says.

“Integrated security systems operation controlled by middleware allow many user interfaces to be on one screen — graphical user interface, automated security event processing and reduction of alarm response time,” he says. “As a result, we gain a more efficient utilization of security systems and work power. We are working towards fulfillment of our security philosophy goals, and there are still many things to do before we reach full-scale operation.”

Monitoring

Verint's Nextiva — used at the Mayo Clinic — is a video management and analytics platform combining enterprise and security data with video, by way of the IT infrastructure, security and business systems.

“With our solution, the clinic can see things when they are about to happen, can close down doors and track movement across locations,” says Mariann McDonagh, Verint's vice president of global marketing.

Nextiva captures video, audio and data over wire line and wireless networks. It includes five integrated software applications to provide event notification, video distribution, to record video to video walls, PDA and computers, recorded video viewing from client or Web browser interface, a searchable database and automated health monitoring and diagnostics.

The system provides the clinic with ongoing monitoring of all public access areas for hospitals and a research video management system. Its central system manages cameras and distributes the video through PCs and even cell phones — helpful given that the Minnesota-based clinic also has facilities in Arizona and Florida.

“The key is to enhance security and be able to monitor all facilities no matter where they are located,” she says.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

For information, circle the Reader Service number (listed below) or visit securitysolutions.com

Verint

15

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

This month in Access Control

• Opening Up About Door Closers
• An Enterprise Approach
• The Framework For Open Systems
• On A Higher Plane
• More from April's issue