Toshiba IP Network Helps Protect Retirement Community Residents
IRVINE, CA., JULY 9, 2014 -- For years, McCrite Plaza Retirement Community, located in Topeka, Kansas, has been considered the premier senior living community in Northeast Kansas. McCrite’s goal is to not only offer a safe and active environment for the senior population to reside, but to provide esthetically beautiful surroundings. The McCrite family recently expanded its successful operations by opening a 163-unit combined senior-living and assisted-living community in the Briarcliff area of Kansas City, MO. To protect resident safety and its investment in the new 200,000-square-foot building, McCrite deployed an enterprise-class Toshiba IP video surveillance system based on the very latest in networking technology.
During construction, management of the new McCrite at Briarcliff facility sought out a stable, robust IP-based video surveillance solution providing forensic-quality streaming video images and low-bandwidth consumption. Its mission was to protect residents, monitor staff, deter theft and vandalism, and to further facilitate peace-of-mind for family members.
“McCrite is dedicated to providing only the absolute best for its residents,” explained Cassidy McCrite, director of McCrite at Braircliff. “This commitment extends itself to the security equipment we install.”
COMPLETE FACILITY PROTECTION
McCrite hired ITalk Telecontracting, Inc. in Kansas City, MO to handle the design and installation of its new IP system. It is a Toshiba ProfitMAX dealer and full-service telecommunications provider, offering VOIP, IP solutions, PBX and Key Systems, Certified LAN/WAN, Cloud Services, Surveillance Cameras, Music on Hold, and relocation of equipment.
Eve Zimmerman of ITalk managed the installation: “McCrite made it clear the entire building and its grounds were to be monitored. We installed Toshiba HD IP cameras in all public spaces, doorways, corridors, exterior parameter, and parking lots, as well as in the health and wellness center and learning center. In all, 64 Toshiba IP cameras have been placed on the network so far.”
Because McCrite at Braircliff was new construction iTalk needed to run all new Ethernet cabling throughout the facility along with a fiber backbone. Cables travel back to a network closet housing a Toshiba NVSPRO network video recorder. Video streams are managed through the Toshiba VMS on the NVSPRO, eliminating the need for separate DVRs and minimizing equipment clutter in the closet. With highly-efficient H.264 video compression, the cameras let the McCrite security team archive video for as long as 30 days on the NVSPRO’s 8TB hard drive.
INDOOR & OUTDOOR MONITORING
The video surveillance system that was adopted indoors makes use of Toshiba IK-WD04A IP mini-dome cameras with 720p HD resolution for on-site security and guest safety. Featuring an extra wide dynamic range and multiple H.264 streaming capabilities, it delivers excellent imaging quality and operator flexibility. To protect patient privacy, the cameras maintain a narrow field of view while keeping with HIPAA regulations and McCrite’s own privacy and confidentiality policies. The IK-WD04A cameras perform well in daylight as well as under low-light conditions, providing McCrite security staff with an edge they never had before.
Outdoor perimeter protection was one of McCrite’s fundamental requirements, considering the need to control access of at-risk residents to outside grounds. Video allows security to respond immediately to an emergency situation. Consequently, the overall safety of all guests at McCrite at Briarcliff is enhanced. The task of outside surveillance is performed by Toshiba IK-WR14A vandal-resistant dome cameras with 1080p HD resolution, H.264 compression and SRLED technology for edge-to-edge lighting down to 0 lux.
“We conducted an in-depth study of many cameras from a variety of top brands using a price-to-performance ratio,” said Zimmerman of ITalk. “Toshiba came out number one, and its team delivered a high level of professionalism in the pre- and post-sales support.”
The more McCrite security familiarizes itself with the vast potential of the Toshiba IP surveillance system, the more opportunities they’ve found to use the technology. In addition to monitoring resident safety, management now has the capability to assure superior service and the productivity of its staff.
For more information, visit www.toshibasecurity.com. Or call 1-877-855-1349.
ABOUT TOSHIBA AMERICA INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., TAIS is comprised of three business units: Digital Products Division, Imaging Systems Division, and Telecommunication Systems Division. Together, these divisions provide digital products, services and solutions, including industry-leading portable computers; televisions, TV/DVD Combination products, Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD products, and portable devices; imaging products for the security, medical and manufacturing markets; storage products for computers; and IP business telephone systems with unified communications, collaboration and mobility applications. TAIS provides sales, marketing and services for its wide range of products in the United States and Latin America. TAIS is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. For more information on TAIS visit toshiba.com/us
About Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba is a world-leading diversified manufacturer, solutions provider and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products and systems. Toshiba Group brings innovation and imagination to a wide range of businesses: digital products, including LCD TVs, notebook PCs, retail solutions and MFPs; electronic devices, including semiconductors, storage products and materials; industrial and social infrastructure systems, including power generation systems, smart community solutions, medical systems and escalators & elevators; and home appliances. Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 590 consolidated companies, with 206,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing 5.8 trillion yen (US$61 billion). Visit Toshiba's web site at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
