Infection control is a top priority for healthcare facilities, particularly in environments where diseases can spread quickly. From operating rooms to patient wards, maintaining strict control over who enters specific areas plays a crucial role in preventing infections. Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) platforms, like Soloinsight’s CloudGate, help healthcare organizations control access to sensitive zones, reducing infection risks while ensuring smooth facility operations.
This blog examines how PIAM systems support infection control, safeguarding patients and staff.
Challenges of Infection Control in Healthcare
Certain areas in healthcare facilities, such as operating rooms, intensive care units (ICUs), and isolation wards, are at higher risk for infection. Unauthorized or uncontrolled access to these areas can increase the likelihood of infection, making it essential to restrict access to trained and authorized personnel only.
CloudGate’s PIAM system enables healthcare providers to control access to high-risk areas with role-based access permissions, helping reduce infection risk.
Controlled Access to High-Risk Zones: Only authorized healthcare workers can enter high-risk areas, limiting the chance of cross-contamination.
Real-Time Monitoring: Security teams can monitor who enters and exits high-risk zones, ensuring compliance with infection control protocols.
Example: A regional hospital with an advanced infection control program implemented CloudGate to manage access to ICUs. By restricting entry to authorized personnel, the hospital reduced cross-contamination incidents by 30%.
Managing Visitor Access in Infection-Prone Areas
Healthcare facilities often experience high visitor traffic, which can increase infection risks if visitors enter sensitive areas. Controlling visitor access is vital for infection control, particularly during disease outbreaks.
CloudGate’s PIAM system includes a visitor management module that limits access based on infection control guidelines.
Pre-Registered Visitor Access: Visitors can be pre-approved to access specific areas, preventing them from entering high-risk zones.
Temporary Access for Patient Rooms Only: Visitor credentials can be configured to allow access only to patient rooms, ensuring they avoid high-risk areas.
How PIAM Supports Infection Control Protocols
Healthcare facilities often rely on diverse medical teams, from surgeons to nursing staff, each with specific roles in patient care. PIAM platforms like CloudGate allow facilities to set role-based access permissions, ensuring that only relevant staff members can enter sensitive areas.
Role-Based Access Levels: Access is restricted based on roles, reducing the number of individuals entering high-risk zones unnecessarily.
Department-Specific Permissions: Access can be customized by department, ensuring that ICU staff have different permissions than general medical staff.
Time-Based Access Control for Non-Essential Personnel
Time-based access is an effective strategy for infection control, particularly for non-essential personnel, contractors, or cleaning staff. CloudGate’s PIAM system allows healthcare facilities to restrict access based on designated work hours, reducing the number of people in high-risk areas.
Restricted Access Outside Work Hours: Only essential staff are allowed in sensitive zones after hours, minimizing potential contamination.
Scheduled Access for Cleaning Staff: Cleaning staff can be given access to certain areas during designated times, reducing the risk of exposure to patients or sensitive medical equipment.
Example: A teaching hospital limited access to isolation rooms to specific hours for non-essential personnel. This adjustment minimized contamination risks and helped enforce strict infection control standards.
Enhancing Efficiency in Infection Control with PIAM
Real-time monitoring is essential for infection control, allowing healthcare facilities to track access events as they happen. CloudGate’s PIAM platform provides real-time data, enabling security teams to identify any unauthorized access immediately.
Real-Time Access Logs: Every entry and exit is recorded in real time, helping facilities identify any access pattern deviations.
Automated Alerts for Unusual Activity: If an unauthorized individual attempts access, CloudGate automatically sends an alert, allowing security teams to respond promptly.
Simplifying Compliance with Infection Control Standards
Healthcare facilities are subject to infection control regulations, such as those from the CDC and WHO, which require strict documentation of access to sensitive areas. CloudGate’s PIAM system automates this process, generating audit-ready reports for compliance.
Comprehensive Audit Trails: All access attempts are logged, ensuring that healthcare organizations have a record of who accessed which areas and when.
Automated Reporting for Audits: Reports can be generated instantly, reducing the administrative burden associated with compliance and helping facilities meet infection control standards.
Supporting Safe Visitor Management in Healthcare
In healthcare settings, visitor access can be a challenge, especially in infection-prone areas. CloudGate’s PIAM system enables healthcare facilities to provide mobile-based visitor credentials, ensuring that visitors are only allowed into designated areas and minimizing physical contact points.
Contactless Entry for Visitors: Visitors can use mobile credentials to enter patient rooms without physical badges, supporting infection control.
Pre-Assigned Visitor Credentials: Facilities can pre-assign digital credentials for visitors, reducing congestion at entry points and supporting smoother visitor flow.
Restricting Access During Outbreaks or Epidemics
During outbreaks, healthcare facilities may need to restrict access to certain areas to control the spread of infection. PIAM systems like CloudGate offer flexible access settings, allowing security teams to restrict visitor access to specific areas or prevent access altogether during epidemics.
Temporary Access Restrictions: CloudGate allows facilities to enforce temporary access restrictions during public health emergencies.
Visitor Management During Outbreaks: The platform provides real-time adjustments to visitor access, supporting facility-wide infection control efforts.
Case Study: Improving Infection Control at a University Hospital
Challenge
A university hospital needed to strengthen infection control by limiting access to operating rooms and isolation wards, especially during flu season. With high visitor traffic and diverse medical staff, the hospital required a flexible access control system to ensure only essential personnel entered high-risk areas.
Solution
The hospital implemented CloudGate’s PIAM platform to set role-based permissions and restrict visitor access to patient rooms only. Real-time monitoring allowed the hospital to detect and prevent unauthorized access, improving overall infection control.
Results
The hospital achieved a 40% reduction in infection incidents linked to unauthorized access, with real-time alerts further supporting infection control measures.
Future-Proofing Infection Control with PIAM
As healthcare facilities expand, maintaining infection control requires scalable solutions. CloudGate’s PIAM platform allows healthcare facilities to scale up easily, adding new locations and access control points as needed.
Flexible Expansion for New Units: CloudGate integrates seamlessly with new ICUs, operating rooms, or isolation wards, maintaining infection control standards as facilities grow.
Adjustable Access for New Personnel: As facilities onboard new staff, PIAM systems can adjust access controls to align with infection control protocols.
Adapting to Emerging Infection Control Technology
The healthcare sector is rapidly adopting new technologies for infection control, such as UV disinfection and antimicrobial surface treatments. CloudGate’s PIAM platform is designed to integrate with these advancements, ensuring healthcare facilities stay prepared for future infection control needs.
Integration with Cleaning Schedules: PIAM systems can coordinate with cleaning technologies to manage access around disinfection schedules, ensuring safe and efficient cleaning cycles.
Future-Ready with Mobile and Biometric Options: As infection control technology advances, CloudGate’s PIAM can incorporate mobile and biometric credentials for safer, contactless access.
Elevating Infection Control with PIAM
Effective infection control requires a multi-layered approach that combines strict access control, real-time monitoring, and compliance with industry standards. CloudGate’s PIAM platform provides healthcare facilities with the tools needed to maintain high infection control standards, enhancing patient safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
Contact Soloinsight, Inc.
Interested in strengthening infection control with PIAM? Contact Soloinsight today to learn how CloudGate can support your healthcare facility’s infection control strategy.
