Integrated Access Control & Intercom Communication for a Multi-Site Psychiatric Healthcare Organization 

At critical hours, security levels adjust based on staff schedules, for example limiting access at night to essential personnel and allowing broader access during the day. Users must fully exit the secured area before re-entry is allowed, ensuring accurate tracking of who is inside the area and preventing repeated badge use. 

Staff can see and talk to each other in critical areas, including between cells, guard stations, and various types of rooms using an intercom system. The same system also supports communication with visitors at entrances and controls special access doors. 

Authorized users can retrieve keys from a secure key cabinet with their access cards, with full usage tracking and automatic alerts for overdue returns. This ensures accountability and enhanced security, which is crucial for protecting sensitive areas such as medication storage. 

Staff use one access card for multiple functions, including access control, key lockers, pharmaceutical rooms, and trolleys, simplifying daily operations. A centralized security station provides live building layouts and instant alarm pop-ups, enabling security teams to monitor and manage doors, sites, and alarms, for example when a door is left open too long. The system also supports real-time alerts, allowing messages and notifications to be instantly sent to staff devices such as pagers and phones, enabling rapid communication during critical situations. 

Only one door opens at a time to prevent unauthorized entry and maintain separation between public areas and restricted zones, including spaces with sensitive equipment. 

To balance cost and security, a mix of wired and wireless door locks was used based on the needs of each area. 

• Wired Locks
  Used on high-security or frequently accessed doors, such as those in pharmacies, IT rooms, and critical medical areas, where real-time access and constant monitoring are essential. 

• Wireless (Online)
  Locks 
Used for doors that require regular control but are in areas where cabling is not possible. These locks receive real-time updates wirelessly while maintaining oversight.