Case Study: Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine achieves automated emergency response and faster lockdowns with Omnilert

SCNM integrates door access control and panic buttons with their ENS to automate emergency response efforts

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) in Tempe, AZ — a small campus of about 100 faculty/staff, 400 students and 20,000 annual patient visits — needed a streamlined, easy-to-use emergency notification and response process without a dedicated full‑time security team. SCNM chose Omnilert and implemented Omnilert Scenarios and Triggers to integrate their emergency notification system (ENS) with existing campus technologies, including door access control and installed panic buttons.

Omnilert tied into SCNM’s door access control via CAP and APIs so predefined Scenarios can simultaneously send multi‑modal alerts (text, email, voice, digital signage) and enact three levels of lockdown, while panic buttons send Triggers to Omnilert to immediately notify key responders and prompt scenario launch. The Omnilert implementation delivered one‑button smartphone initiation, automatic coordination between messaging and door locks, about eight ready‑to‑use scenarios, increased staff confidence, and reduced response time — helping SCNM fulfill its promise to protect the campus community.

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

Mark Lierley

Chief Information Officer