Your organization is looking to invest in a mobile medical van because you believe in bringing healthcare directly to those who need it most. You know the importance of reaching remote areas and ensuring everyone can access medical services. However, as a responsible organization, you might also feel the weight of ensuring the safety of your mobile medical van.
You worry about the safety of your patients, staff, and the equipment inside the van. These concerns are valid and essential to address.
We understand your concerns at MoveMobility because we’ve been at the forefront of mobile medical solutions for over 10 years. Our expertise is crafting innovative, reliable, and safe mobile medical units.
We’re dedicated to removing barriers to healthcare and transportation, and we’re proud to say that numerous healthcare providers across Canada trust our vehicles. We aim to manufacture vehicles that save lives while ensuring that every mobile medical unit we produce meets the highest safety standards.
In this article, we’ll share five mobile medical van customization options your healthcare team and patients will love due to the added safety you’ll get. Whether you’re a seasoned organization or new to the world of mobile medical units, these insights will help you maintain a secure environment for everyone involved.
What are the top 5 ways to ensure the safety of your mobile medical van?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the customization options available to boost the safety of your mobile medical van.
1. Window and medicine cabinet tinting
Tinting the windows of medicine cabinets is an important customization option in ensuring the safety of your mobile medical van. Visibility can be a risk: while you need to see inside clearly, it’s vital that others can’t.
Tinting keeps valuable medical supplies out of sight, making your van less of a target for theft. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction reports a rise in prescription drug thefts in some regions of Canada. Over 500,000 prescription drugs are stolen each year across the country. When you reduce visibility, you lower the risk of your mobile medical unit attracting unwanted attention.
Visible medicine cabinets can tempt thieves in the same way that a store window display can. Tinting obscures the contents, following the “out of sight, out of mind” principle. This simple measure can prevent potential break-ins.
2. Alarm
Installing an alarm system in your mobile medical van is a key step to keeping it safe. An effective alarm system provides protection for valuable equipment, staff, patients, and sensitive medical supplies onboard.
An alarm system acts as a strong deterrent to potential thieves. Knowing an alarm is in place can make criminals think twice before attempting to break in. If a break-in happens, an alarm system will immediately alert you and the authorities, reducing potential losses.
When someone tries to break into your van, the alarm system is like having a loud, authoritative voice that shouts, “Stop! You’re not allowed here!” This immediate, attention-grabbing response can scare off intruders and prevent theft.
Imagine your mobile medical unit is parked overnight in an unfamiliar area of downtown Toronto. An alarm system provides peace of mind, knowing that any unauthorized entry will trigger a loud alert. This immediate response can scare off thieves, prevent theft, and protect your supplies.
3. More lighting
Proper lighting is another factor in ensuring the safety of your mobile medical van. Bright, well-lit interiors make it more difficult for thieves to approach your van without being seen. Criminals typically prefer to work under the cover of darkness, so adequate lighting can make them think twice about targeting your vehicle.
A study by the Canadian Urban Institute found that improved lighting in urban areas reduced crime rates by up to 20%. Don’t forget to ask one of our mobility experts about additional lighting options if you will be operating at night.
4. Medical cabinet locks
Properly securing the medical cabinets in your mobile medical van helps ensure your supplies’ safety, such as medications and medical equipment. These items are expensive and dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. Using high-quality, tamper-proof locks, makes sure that only authorized personnel can access the cabinets.
Thieves target medical supplies because they are valuable and can be sold illegally. Thieves who encounter a locked cabinet are more likely to give up and move on.
Imagine you’re providing medical services in a remote area. Your van is a vital resource for the community, filled with essential supplies and medication. High-quality locks on your medical cabinets ensure that even if someone tries to break in, they won’t be able to access the valuable contents.
This security measure is necessary, especially when operating in areas with higher crime rates or when leaving the van unattended. Knowing your medical supplies are secure allows you to focus on providing care without worrying about theft.
5. Window grid bars
Windows are often the weakest point in any vehicle and are the first place thieves target when attempting a break-in.
Installing grid bars on the windows of your mobile medical van is a good way to boost its security. These bars act as a physical barrier, making it much harder for intruders to access the van’s interior.
Grid bars also act as a visible deterrent. When potential thieves see these bars, they know that breaking into the van will require more effort and time, which increases their risk of getting caught. This visual deterrent alone can prevent many attempted break-ins.
Think about being parked in a high-crime area. Even with tinted windows and an alarm system, determined thieves might still attempt to break in. Grid bars on your windows act as a final barrier, making it extremely challenging for anyone to get through.
Other mobile medical van security measures
A couple of final mobile medical van security measures include:
Encryption: Protect important data by encrypting it on all van computers. This makes it tough for unauthorized people to see sensitive information, even if they manage to take the computer.
Power management: Save energy and amp up security by turning off computers when they’re not being used. This further lowers the chances of unwanted access.
Security training: Teach staff about all mobile medical van safety measures so they can respond to threats well. Staff should know what to do during emergencies, and educated staff are far better at handling security issues, which will keep everyone safe.
Scheduled inspections: Regularly review your safety measures to stop security issues or safety concerns before they even arise. Look at all of your security features, like alarms and locks, during inspections. Also, data security should be checked often to make sure there are no breaches.
Engage locally: Get involved in community events to build trust with the people you help. Strong community ties can encourage other people to have the best interests of the mobile medical unit in mind.
Learn more about customization options with MoveMobility
You likely landed on this article while researching how to improve the safety of a mobile medical van.
Now that you know more about some of the safety options you can get with your mobile medical van, you might be wondering what to do next.
From here, we recommend you check out our article on the costs and possibilities of mobile medical van customization.
You should also read our article on mobile medical van warranty so you know what to expect in the unfortunate event that something does happen to your van.
If you have any questions about this article or mobile medical vans in general, don’t hesitate to click the button below to talk to a mobility expert.
