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control and PHI protection intersect. Security practitioners could collaborate with architects and door hardware designers to create a coordinated and functional environment. Beyond the programming of the doors and barriers, there is also information that must be provided. Properly planned, conveyed and placed wayfi nding or signage not only supports pedestrian direction, it also reinforces the ability for staf to question or challenge indi- viduals who do not belong in certain areas. Door hardware and security technologies Methods of security may require integration with life safety code to support and manage areas that cannot simply be locked. In these cases, supplementary door monitoring and local alarms can be provided to increase the situational awareness of staf and draw attention to people that may not belong. Critical to the situational awareness for healthcare facilities is the ability for security staf to monitor door positions (open or closed), as well as identify occurrences of force opens and propped open doors. This information can be used by security staf to dispatch person- nel, call up adjacent cameras or prioritize a response based on areas that are alarming. Healthcare environments have one of the most complicated door hardware programming of any other environment due to se- curity and egress requirement overlaps. Delayed egress hardware can sometimes be used to assist with these overlaps. What this hardware does is provide an occupant a means of exit through an otherwise locked door by pushing against the door or crash bar for a short period of time (typically 15 seconds). By doing so, an audible alarm would be generated and then the door opens. This hardware accomplishes two goals: 1) exit is momentarily delayed while the alarm draws attention to the area and 2) the occupant is provided the necessary egress. If a patient or intruder were to attempt to leave through a door equipped with this hardware, nurses, doctors and other patients or guests would likely hear the alarm and verify if an unauthorized exit has been attempted or if an actual emergency has warranted the exit. One area where both security and egress are extremely important is a labor and delivery unit. Many clients elect to use a blend of door hardware and security with delayed egress. One client uses this technology on its labor and delivery unit due to the location of the unit within the hospital in rela- tion to emergency egress routes. Delayed egress hardware was provided at a few doors to support functionality. SECURITY continued on page 23 >> MCDM AG.COM | NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | Medical Construction & Design 21