By HFT Staff

Saint Vincent Hospital, a healthcare provider in Central Massachusetts, has enhanced patient and staff safety by upgrading its access control and video surveillance technology across its facility. Located in the heart of Worcester, MA, Saint Vincent Hospital’s facilities have been serving the needs of the Central Massachusetts community since 1893. The facility is one of the first hospitals in Massachusetts to achieve compliance with the new patient health and safety law, Laura’s Law. 

The hospital features a range of specialties—from robotic surgery and neonatal services to oncology and cardiology care. In partnership with Axis Communications, a video surveillance and network devices company, and Village Security, a full-service security firm, the medical facility has integrated technology that monitors every part of the hospital’s nearly 300-bed facility. The resulting solution provides real-time information that improves emergency response times and helps to save more lives. Laura’s Law was enacted by the State of Massachusetts in 2021 to ensure hospitals make it easier for people to find help in an emergency. 

“Saint Vincent Hospital is one of the first hospitals in Massachusetts to fully comply with Laura’s Law, and our partnership with Axis and Village Security enables us to meet the highest standards of safety,” said Darrell Boling, market director of facilities and support services at Saint Vincent Hospital. “Laura's Law regulates standards for lighting and signage at emergency department access points. It requires 24-hour surveillance with instant playback capabilities including two-way audio-video intercoms connected to a live operator. With better cameras, enhanced signage and video intercoms, we’re able to react faster to patient and staff emergencies, and in doing so, we save more lives.” 

To comply with Laura’s Law, Saint Vincent Hospital deployed emergency call boxes embedded with 2N IP Verso security intercoms at all public entrances along with improved lighting and enhanced signage. The law also mandates duress alarms at the main entrances, so the call boxes were integrated with assistive listening technology to improve accessibility for the hearing impaired. 

“In addition to employing a new video intercom system, the implementation of Laura's Law provided Saint Vincent with an opportunity to modernize its security infrastructure by replacing its outdated analog cameras with high-resolution Axis IP cameras,” explains Matt Kjin, segment development manager, Axis Communications. “Village Security installed over one hundred Axis dome, panoramic, and multi-directional cameras throughout the premises, all seamlessly integrated and monitored through AXIS Camera Station video management software. Village worked with the local Axis regional sales manager to design the project using AXIS Site Designer, a tool that helps optimize camera placement and factor storage and bandwidth usage.” 

The new system amplifies safety measures, which is especially important during the holiday season – a time when increased hospital and emergency visits are inevitable. Looking beyond the holiday period, Saint Vincent Hospital will benefit from access of a cutting-edge, scalable system allowing for the simple integration of new solutions to ensure they continue to offer the highest level of standards and compliance for patient, visitor and staff safety. 

The new system includes: 

• Over 100 Axis dome, panoramic and multi-directional cameras: These cameras replaced an outdated analog network and provide extensive coverage of the hospital grounds. 
• The AXIS License Plate Verifier: Monitors vehicles entering the hospital's premises. This tool played a key role in solving a recent case where a shooting victim was dropped off at the hospital. By capturing the vehicle's license plate, security was able to provide critical information to the Worcester Police Department, aiding their investigation. 
• AXIS Camera Station (ACS) video management software: Security staff can quickly respond to alerts, view live video footage and trigger alarm systems, such as the AXIS horn speaker and strobe siren, to draw attention to critical incidents. These tools also assist with non-emergency tasks, such as monitoring psychiatric patients, further improving operational efficiency. 
• 2N IP Verso security intercoms and the 2N IP Force video intercoms: These are placed in critical areas such as the employee garage, loading dock, emergency department and ambulance bay. The intercoms allow immediate communication with hospital security, and the system is designed for full accessibility, including an induction loop system for individuals with hearing impairments.