Healthcare Network Upgrades To IP Camera System

Jun 1, 2006 12:00 PM

Orlando Regional Healthcare (ORH), a private, not-for-profit healthcare network with 1,572 beds spread over eight hospitals, has chosen to migrate from analog video security to an IP-based system, using Sony network cameras. Hospital officials project the system to grow to more than 500 IP cameras in the next three years.

“We began this process by simply wanting to add additional analog cameras to cover two parking garages, and ended by rethinking our entire system,” says John Hackett, ORH's director of protective services. “We have struggled with separate security video operations in each of our facilities, and discovered that with an IP-based system, we could unify operations to improve efficiency, reliability and safety while cutting costs.”

Initial plans for a gradual phase-in of IP were passed over for a broader, immediate implementation with 34 Sony SNC-DF70N network cameras installed in two garages, and 68 legacy analog cameras carried over into the system through encoders.

One possible issue was the IT department's participation. Fortunately, they immediately grasped the IP security concept because they already had IP cameras installed in network closets to keep an eye on equipment throughout the system.

“Obtaining the IT department's buy-in was crucial. They requested that a parallel network built on a separate fiber optic cable be installed so that this could scale to an enterprise-wide IP security system supporting hundreds of cameras,” says Diane Savikas, project coordinator for biomedical/electronics for ORH.

Another major institutional shift is how the IT department has taken over management of the security system.

“It's quite an improvement to go from having security officers changing tapes to IT professionals managing a server,” Savikas adds.

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