Maintaining Health and Security: 3 Tips for Installing in Medical Facilities
- ProdataKey
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
Healthcare facilities, from rehab centers to hospitals, require efficient security systems in order to protect staff, patients, and valuable equipment at all times. However, with each medical facility comes unique requirements that integrators need to account for in the planning and installation processes.
In order to help you navigate the demands of this industry, we’re sharing three pieces of advice from an access control expert: Denelle Hilliard, Senior Territory Representative at Per Mar Security Services. With this advice, you can approach your healthcare installs with confidence and deliver the exact solutions that your customers need.
Utilize Existing Hardware
Not every install will take place in a brand new building where access control can be set up from scratch. Often, security experts are brought in by customers who hope to upgrade an existing system in a building. Luckily, ProdataKey makes it easier than ever to transition a facility from an old system to PDK’s cloud-based ecosystem. PDK is compatible with a wide range of readers, meaning that technicians don’t always need to rip-and-replace all existing hardware when beginning a retrofitted install.
“PDK is a great solution in scenarios where you have existing hardware already in place,”
Denelle Hilliard of Per Mar Security Services,
“When installing PDK, you have the flexibility of either utilizing their existing readers or upgrading them to readers from ProdataKey. It's a very easy way to bring the software up to par to today’s world and standards.” This not only allows technicians to save time during installs, but it also assists with cost savings for the end user. “For medical facilities, it’s instrumental to have a financial commitment to change—but a security system can take up a large piece of their budget.” Working with existing infrastructure can allow customers to save costs during the initial installation process, with the potential for replacing them with ProdataKey readers later down the line.
Understand Compliance Requirements
In healthcare, security isn’t just about controlling who can enter a room—it’s about meeting strict regulatory standards designed to maintain accurate records, protect patient privacy, and ensure safe operations on a daily basis. This means that every installation must be completed with a clear understanding of the compliance requirements surrounding medical spaces.
One such requirement is the need to have proper audit trails. “Whether it’s a wellness center, a clinic, an obstetrics room, or another area—there’s a clear need for reporting,” Denelle explains. By understanding and educating your customers about PDK’s enhanced reporting capabilities, you can empower healthcare spaces to not only function within strict requirements, but to also have enhanced insights that can improve critical operations and help them truly understand how their space is used on a daily basis.
Ultimately, by approaching each project with a compliance-first mindset, integrators can help medical facilities avoid costly penalties, streamline inspections, and maintain the highest standards of patient care.
Go Mobile-First
ProdataKey prioritizes an approach to access control that is mobile-first, both in terms of access management and day-to-day use. “The beauty of PDK are the cloud-managed services they offer and the mobile credentials,” Denelle reflects. “Often, I’ll say: let’s skip the fobs, skip the cards—just grab your mobile. After all, everybody already has a mobile phone today, and you never leave without it.”
Denelle suggests that healthcare spaces should introduce mobile credentials wherever possible due to the unmatched convenience they provide. Especially in high-traffic medical facilities where staff frequently move between patient rooms, storage spaces, and administrative areas, relying on a convenient, secure form of credentialing will elevate your customers' experience each day.
It’s important to note that going mobile-first requires compatible readers—and while PDK’s ecosystem offers many options for compatibility, not every reader in a retrofitted environment will support mobile credentials right away. Even so, healthcare facilities can adopt a hybrid approach: begin with mobile-ready doors in high-priority areas and gradually expand as older hardware is replaced. This gives organizations the flexibility to modernize at their own pace without sacrificing immediate functionality.
Finding Success in Your PDK Healthcare Installs
Healthcare environments are some of the most demanding spaces an integrator can work in—but they’re also some of the most meaningful. By leveraging existing hardware, embracing a mobile-first approach, and staying aware of the regulatory standards that govern medical operations, you can deliver access control solutions that genuinely strengthen safety, efficiency, and patient care.
