Interface Systems Sees 97% Of Alarms Resolved Without Police Dispatch

Interface Systems has been selected to consolidate security services for a nationwide veterinary hospital network across more than 1,000 US locations, tackling recurring false alarm fines, uneven alarm monitoring support, and underuse of its video management system (VMS).

The network had been facing mounting costs from false alarms, particularly at roughly 300 standalone hospitals where police fines ranged from $500 to $1,000 for each false dispatch. Some sites accrued several thousand dollars in penalties within a single month, diverting attention from patient care and placing pressure on local law enforcement.

"False alarm penalties are one of the most persistent and underestimated costs for multi-site operators, especially in healthcare and veterinary settings where staff can’t afford to be pulled away for false dispatches," said Steve Womer, SVP of Product at Interface Systems. "By combining video verification with remote monitoring expertise, we were able to give this network a way to cut those costs immediately, while also making their existing video investment far more useful day-to-day."

Under the agreement, Interface now provides a single, national point of support for the network’s existing VMS and intrusion alarm monitoring. The centralised model includes structured onboarding and training, giving staff more consistent guidance on investigations and incident review while improving overall system use.

To curb false alarm penalties at the 300 most affected hospitals, Interface deployed its Video-Verified Alarm service through a standardised remote migration. Monitoring specialists review video associated with alarm events before requesting police response. Since rollout, 97% of alarm events have been identified as false and resolved without dispatch, with only 3% requiring law enforcement involvement—dramatically reducing unnecessary call-outs and associated fines.

Interface also helped transform the underutilised VMS into a day-to-day investigative tool. Risk management teams now use a standardised platform to examine potential fraud, assess workers’ compensation claims, and preserve evidence for legal matters. With attribute-based search and mobile access, authorised users can quickly isolate critical footage from desktops or phones, allowing internal safety teams to spend less time gathering evidence and more on proactive regulatory compliance.

The centralised approach has reshaped maintenance and service as well. A majority of issues can be addressed remotely, with 63% of service requests now resolved without sending a technician. Mean-time-to-repair compliance stands at 94% against an 85% target, supporting more consistent system uptime and performance across locations.

Looking ahead, the network is expanding its use of Interface services at higher-risk sites and piloting Virtual Perimeter Guard, which combines AI-enabled cameras with remote intervention to identify and address potential security threats proactively.