How AdventHealth Enhanced Security and Operations with PlateSmart's ALPR Technology

AdventHealth Orlando leveraged PlateSmart's license plate recognition technology to transform hospital security, improving emergency response documentation, optimizing parking operations, and enhancing overall campus safety for patients, staff, and visitors.

The image shows the top view of a hospital building in a suburban area representing ALPR case studies

Healthcare at Scale: The AdventHealth Landscape

AdventHealth Orlando is part of a nationwide non-profit healthcare network with 55 hospital campuses, hundreds of care sites and more than 100,000 skilled caregivers across 9 states.

AdventHealth Orlando is one of the busiest hospitals in the US and has been recognized as the #1 hospital in Greater Orlando for 14 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Vulnerabilities in Healing Spaces: Security Pain Points

Healthcare facilities face unique security challenges due to their 24/7 operations, open-access requirements, and the critical nature of their services. Hospitals like AdventHealth see constant vehicle traffic—staff arriving for shifts, patients coming for appointments, visitors checking on loved ones, and emergency vehicles delivering those in need of urgent care.

For AdventHealth Orlando, these challenges were particularly pronounced given its size and complexity. The hospital's security team recognized several specific areas where their existing systems fell short:

Security staff, though well-trained and conscientious, couldn't monitor all areas simultaneously, creating potential blind spots across the expansive campus

The emergency room presented a particular challenge, as patients were sometimes hastily dropped off by drivers who would quickly leave the scene, making documentation difficult for both hospital staff and local law enforcement

The hospital lacked reliable data on traffic patterns throughout the facility, which was crucial for operational planning and future development

The staff garage access system was inefficient, requiring manual intervention and failing to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering restricted parking areas

Vehicles play a central role in nearly all aspects of hospital operations—from staff commuting to patient transport to emergency response. This vehicular component created both a security vulnerability and an opportunity for technological enhancement.

The PlateSmart Solution: An Intelligent Security Approach

After evaluating various options, AdventHealth implemented the PlateSmart ARES® automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) solution to address their security and operational challenges. This technology offered a comprehensive approach that could adapt to the hospital's complex environment.

The PlateSmart ARES system provided AdventHealth with sophisticated vehicle monitoring capabilities that extended far beyond basic surveillance. The solution enabled:

Comprehensive traffic monitoring across parking areas and key entrance/exit points

Automatic capture of license plate data with location, date, time, and full-color vehicle images

Detailed traffic analysis through simple reporting functions

Complete documentation for security incidents and investigations

Automated access control for staff parking areas

Perhaps most importantly, the system was designed to balance security needs with the open, welcoming environment essential for a healthcare facility.

Implementation Strategy: Creating Abundant Coverage

AdventHealth worked with PlateSmart to develop a strategic deployment plan that would maximize coverage while minimizing disruption to hospital operations. The implementation included:

30 fixed-location ALPR-enabled cameras installed throughout parking garages and at key entrance/exit points

Out of these 30 cameras, 26 served a dual purpose, providing both security monitoring and automatic access control for staff garages

One security vehicle equipped with a mobile ALPR unit connected to the main system

This approach allowed staff vehicles to enter and exit based on license plate recognition without requiring ID badges, streamlining the parking process for busy healthcare workers while maintaining security protocols.

The image shows the top view of a hospital building in a suburban area, with the different entrances marked

Evaluating Success: Security Transformation Outcomes

The implementation of PlateSmart's ALPR system delivered tangible benefits across multiple aspects of AdventHealth's operations. Security staff members report that the technology has become an integral part of their daily protocols, helping them address a wide range of situations.

The system has proven valuable in:

Preventing workplace violence incidents through early identification of potential threats

Solving crimes that occur on hospital property by providing critical vehicle evidence

Resolving patient disputes with accurate documentation

Improving security team efficiency through rapid information retrieval

Perhaps most importantly, the security team emphasizes that the PlateSmart system works as a complement to traditional security methodologies rather than a replacement. It serves as "an indispensable and reliable helping hand" that enhances the capabilities of their personnel while providing valuable data to support facility growth planning.

The successful implementation at AdventHealth demonstrates how ALPR technology can be effectively adapted to healthcare environments, supporting both security needs and operational efficiency while maintaining the open, compassionate atmosphere essential to patient care.

LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (LPR): THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VEHICULAR INTELLIGENCE

PlateSmart’s deep dive into License Plate Recognition and its immense contribution to security agencies and businesses.

Looking to elevate your security infrastructure with cutting-edge LPR solutions?

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