IPC Health, Melbourne

How IPC Health Clinics Transformed Access Control with ASSA ABLOY’s Digital Access Solutions

In Victoria, Australia, IPC Health stands as one of the state’s leading community health providers, delivering essential services such as medical, dental, mental health, and aged-care support across multiple locations in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

As IPC Health’s network expanded, so too did the complexity of managing safe, efficient access to clinics, offices, and sensitive zones. To modernise their approach, IPC Health turned to ASSA ABLOY’s Digital Access Solutions and the Aperio^® wireless lock range - partnering with trusted system integrator Total Security Management to deliver a future-ready upgrade.

The Challenge: Safe Access Without Disruption

Operating a busy healthcare service means security upgrades must be achieved without disrupting patient care. IPC Health’s legacy system relied on mechanical keys and older wired access technologies - costly to maintain, difficult to track, and inflexible when staff or access needs changed.

Key challenges included:

• Multiple sites requiring consistent and centralised access management.
• Live clinical environments where downtime or disruption must be kept to an absolute minimum.
• Compliance and auditing requirements, demanding precise control and visibility over who accesses certain zones.
• A need to modernise efficiently while leveraging existing infrastructure.

The Solution: Aperio^® Wireless Access Technology

Working in close partnership, ASSA ABLOY and Total Security Management designed a tailored access control solution based on the ASSA ABLOY Aperio^® range of wireless electronic locks.

The Aperio platform enabled IPC Health to upgrade existing doors quickly - without the extensive cabling, construction, or downtime usually associated with traditional wired systems. The battery-powered wireless locks seamlessly integrate with existing access control software, allowing real-time monitoring, credential management, and audit reporting.

System Integrator: Adrian Dempster, Director at Total Security Management, led the installation across IPC Health’s Victorian sites.

“Because Aperio is wireless and modular, we were able to retrofit locks to existing doors without rewiring or major disruption,” says Adrian Dempster. “That’s crucial in an environment where patient safety and continuity of care are the top priorities.”

Why Digital Access Solutions Matter in Healthcare

Healthcare facilities face unique access challenges: protecting sensitive data and medications, managing 24-hour staff access, and maintaining compliance - all while keeping patients safe and operations uninterrupted.

The ASSA ABLOY Digital Access Solutions platform addresses these needs through:

• Full auditability and tracking: Every door event is logged, providing a verifiable digital trail for compliance and security review.
• Ease of installation and minimal disruption: Aperio’s wireless design dramatically reduces installation time, avoiding costly cabling and structural works.
• Seamless integration: Compatible with most leading access control systems, Aperio integrates directly into existing security infrastructure.
• Scalability and flexibility: As IPC Health grows or modifies its clinics, new doors and devices can be easily added or reconfigured.

“In healthcare environments, it’s vital that access solutions are invisible to patients and staff in day-to-day operations, yet robust behind the scenes,” explains Phil Thomas, National System Integrator Manager – Digital Access Solutions at ASSA ABLOY Australia.

“With the Aperio range, we provide a wireless, retrofit-friendly platform that lets organisations track access, reduce installation time, and integrate seamlessly with their existing systems. We help clients digitalise with confidence.”

The Results: Secure, Scalable, and Future-Ready

The deployment of ASSA ABLOY’s Aperio range across IPC Health’s clinics has delivered significant operational and security benefits:

• Improved security and compliance – With digital tracking of access events, IPC Health can easily manage audit and reporting requirements.
• Minimal disruption to clinical operations – Wireless installation meant clinics remained operational throughout the rollout.
• Centralised management – Credentials can be issued or revoked instantly, even across multiple locations.
• Scalable infrastructure – The solution is ready to expand as IPC Health adds new facilities or adopts new digital tools.