Bringing your mobile medical clinic to areas of the U.S. with higher rates of crime can pose risks to the safety of both your medical staff and your patients. Your vehicle will be more susceptible to theft and vandalism, and these safety concerns might deter people from accessing your healthcare services at all. Keep reading to learn how you can keep a mobile medical clinic secure.
At AVAN Mobility, we know there are areas across the country that might feel less safe than others. With over a decade of experience in the field of manufacturing mobile medical vans, you can rest assured that safety is and always will be behind everything that we do.
As you read this article, you’re going to learn about some of the ways you can keep a mobile medical clinic secure. These security measures should help to make your healthcare team and your patients feel much safer, even in areas that are prone to crime.
What are the key considerations for safeguarding a mobile medical unit?
When thinking about the security of your mobile medical unit, there are a couple of considerations you should keep in mind.
Determine what needs protection: Firstly, think about what you want to keep safe inside your mobile medical unit. It could be important tools, medical supplies, or even documents. Knowing exactly what needs protection is the starting point for keeping everything secure.
Balance between security and visibility: Consider whether you want things to be secure, out of sight, or a bit of both. Some items might need extra protection, while others should be easy to find. Finding the right balance ensures that important things stay safe without being hard to reach when needed. For example, if you often use a thermometer for your patients, it might not make sense to store it in an area that takes 5 minutes just to retrieve.
Take care of temperature-sensitive items: If you have medicine on board, think about whether they need to be stored at a specific temperature. Some medical supplies, like vaccination vials, need to be stored between 36° to 46°F.
If you’re going to be administering any type of medication, it might not make the most sense to do so during the nighttime hours when crime rates are higher. For that reason, you might not want to be carrying certain medications, like Narcan, at certain hours of the day.
What customization options can help keep a mobile medical clinic secure?
While providing great healthcare to the less fortunate is a top priority, you don’t need to risk your safety at the same time. Let’s take a look at some smart customizations that can boost the security of your mobile medical van.
Tinting all windows on medicine cabinets
When you’re carrying medicines and sensitive supplies, you don’t want to run the risk of them ending up in the wrong hands. Tinted windows act as a privacy shield, ensuring the confidentiality of your medical items.
Tinting the glass on medicine cabinets is a good way to prevent prying eyes from seeing what’s in them. It adds an extra layer of protection by keeping the contents private and out of plain sight.
Locks on medical cabinets
Medical cabinets often hold valuable and sensitive items. Locks provide an additional layer of defense, ensuring that only the right people can get to the important stuff. Adding locks to the medical cabinets reduces the risk of theft or unauthorized use.
Grid bars added to the 3 windows in the clinic
Windows can be vulnerable points in any vehicle, and grid bars make them extra secure. They deter break-ins and ensure the safety of personnel, patients, and medical equipment. Grid bars reinforce the structural integrity of the clinic and make it much more challenging to break into.
Additional lighting options
In a lot of cases, criminals do their misdeeds at night and in the dark. Well-lit areas act as a deterrent and make it harder for anyone with bad intentions to approach the clinic unnoticed. Inside, sufficient lighting ensures medical professionals can work efficiently and safely.
Extra lighting inside the mobile medical clinic is like turning on a spotlight. It increases visibility, making the clinic less appealing to thieves or vandals.
Alarm system
Installing alarm systems is like giving your clinic a voice that shouts if anything goes wrong. It alerts you and the team if there’s an unwanted entry. This can help prepare you for a quick response to potential threats.
What are some other ways to keep a mobile medical clinic secure?
When it comes to securing your mobile medical clinic, there are additional strategies beyond the customization of the vehicle. Let’s take a look at some of these measures your team should consider.
Blend in or stand out: In high-risk areas, consider making your clinic inconspicuous, so it doesn’t attract unwanted attention. Alternatively, making it highly visible can discourage criminals, as the risk becomes too great when everyone can see it.
Smart computer practices: Ensure that computer systems are powered down or offline when not in use. This prevents unauthorized access and protects sensitive internal systems. It’s like locking the doors to keep unwanted guests out.
Surveillance and monitoring: Implement surveillance and monitoring systems around your clinic. These act as deterrents that signal that your clinic is under watch. The more visible these systems are, the better they deter criminal activity.
Staff training: Empower your staff by providing training to recognize potential threats and respond appropriately. This also means developing a clear and effective emergency response plan. The plan acts as a safety net that allows for swift and coordinated actions in case of emergencies.
Regular safety audits: Conduct regular security audits to assess vulnerabilities and make necessary improvements. Think of this like giving your clinic a regular check-up to identify and address any potential security weaknesses.
Build community connections: Make good friends in your local community. Talk to the neighbors and the nearby businesses. Nearby community members lend more eyes to watch over your mobile medical clinic. If they do end up seeing criminal action occurring, they can call the authorities.
While security is important, respect for privacy is equally important. Use caution to avoid breaching the privacy of clients. Striking the right balance ensures safety without compromising the dignity of those seeking medical assistance.
What’s next?
You most likely found this article while looking for information on mobile medical clinics. Now that you know more about how to keep a mobile medical clinic secure, you’re probably wondering what to do next.
At this point, you should take a look at our article on mobile medical van customization. This article will give you a better idea of the costs involved with that.
You’ll also find it helpful to read our article on how to ensure privacy in a Mobile Clinic Van. This will make sure the whole experience for your patients is better.
As you can see, we know how important safety is at AVAN Mobility. That’s exactly why we offer some of these customization options to organizations looking for safe and reliable mobile medical vans.
If you have any questions regarding our mobile medical vans or anything discussed in this article, click the button below to reach out to a commercial mobility expert.
