Alpha Thunder Tag-3 WC blog 124
Tablet Theft-3
i-pad Theft-3
Classic N10-3
Mobile Medical Devices Make Electronic Health Record Security Risky – Protect Tablets And I-Pads With Alpha Thunder Tags
According to the website HealthIT.gov, “ if medicare eligible providers, or EP’s, do not adopt and successfully demonstrate meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) by 2015, the EP’s medicare physician fee schedule amount for covered professional services will be adjusted down by 1% each year.” What this means is that the government is attempting to steer healthcare providers away from paper documentation to electronic documentation. While there are benefits to maintaining patient records in electronic form such as record sharing with patients, the ability for doctors to collaborate, viewing of scans, a host of medical apps and other resources, there are also pitfalls. Many physicians are using mobile medical devices to improve service and comply with the new electronic health record requirements. What happens in the event of a medical tablet theft or medical i-pad theft? What patient information might be compromised? The Alpha Thunder Tag can protect these devices from theft.
It is likely that you are wondering what the Alpha Thunder Tag is and how it can protect a mobile device. The tag is a small anti-theft device that is attached to a tablet or i-pad with an adhesive. The tag is equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology so if a tagged item is carried in range of an EAS antenna the antenna alarm emits a loud, annoying beep. It is also tamper protected and will alarm in the event a thief attempts to remove the tag. I do want to emphasize that the EAS capability is only useful if a medical facility will take the time to install EAS antennas at ALL points of entry. Without investing in EAS antennas, the tags will only be a visual deterrent to theft, assuming the potential thieves are bothered by the attachment on the item they want to steal.
Since I referenced the necessity for an EAS antenna system as a requirement for effectively protecting your practice from tablet theft and i-pad theft, I would like to digress for a moment and discuss this part of a system. EAS antennas come in various sizes, but if someone is concerned about the space a set would take up, rest assured it does not have to be a problem. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a compact unit that provides all the protection of a larger unit you see in a retail store. The difference is that the Classic N10 was designed for small retail stores that could not spare the room for a large system. Carrying this idea to a medical office or clinic only makes sense since you have to have room for transport devices such as wheelchairs or crutches, possibly even gurneys, to enter and exit your facility.
At this point you may still doubt the need to secure your mobile devices because, what is someone going to be able to do even if they get their hands on a tablet or i-pad? Well, according to the healthcare web site, hitconsultant.net in a November 4, 2014 article, “68% of all healthcare data breaches since 2010 are due to device theft or loss, according to the 2014 Healthcare Breach Report from Bitglass.” Why would anyone want to access patient healthcare data? Because the information can include everything a medical provider has on file for a patient, billing information, addresses, payment information, insurance policy numbers and even prescription information. The data has value on the black market and can be sold or it is used to create false insurance claims, obtain illegal prescriptions and identity theft.
Medical tablet theft and i-pad theft is not an issue to be taken lightly. Should your practice lose a device and a data breach were to occur, there can be significant fines and penalties assessed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Investing in Alpha Thunder Tags and a Classic N10 antenna system can provide the security you need to protect your mobile devices and your patient’s information.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tag, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
According to the website HealthIT.gov, “ if medicare eligible providers, or EP’s, do not adopt and successfully demonstrate meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) by 2015, the EP’s medicare physician fee schedule amount for covered professional services will be adjusted down by 1% each year.” What this means is that the government is attempting to steer healthcare providers away from paper documentation to electronic documentation. While there are benefits to maintaining patient records in electronic form such as record sharing with patients, the ability for doctors to collaborate, viewing of scans, a host of medical apps and other resources, there are also pitfalls. Many physicians are using mobile medical devices to improve service and comply with the new electronic health record requirements. What happens in the event of a medical tablet theft or medical i-pad theft? What patient information might be compromised? The Alpha Thunder Tag can protect these devices from theft.
It is likely that you are wondering what the Alpha Thunder Tag is and how it can protect a mobile device. The tag is a small anti-theft device that is attached to a tablet or i-pad with an adhesive. The tag is equipped with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology so if a tagged item is carried in range of an EAS antenna the antenna alarm emits a loud, annoying beep. It is also tamper protected and will alarm in the event a thief attempts to remove the tag. I do want to emphasize that the EAS capability is only useful if a medical facility will take the time to install EAS antennas at ALL points of entry. Without investing in EAS antennas, the tags will only be a visual deterrent to theft, assuming the potential thieves are bothered by the attachment on the item they want to steal.
Since I referenced the necessity for an EAS antenna system as a requirement for effectively protecting your practice from tablet theft and i-pad theft, I would like to digress for a moment and discuss this part of a system. EAS antennas come in various sizes, but if someone is concerned about the space a set would take up, rest assured it does not have to be a problem. The Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is a compact unit that provides all the protection of a larger unit you see in a retail store. The difference is that the Classic N10 was designed for small retail stores that could not spare the room for a large system. Carrying this idea to a medical office or clinic only makes sense since you have to have room for transport devices such as wheelchairs or crutches, possibly even gurneys, to enter and exit your facility.
At this point you may still doubt the need to secure your mobile devices because, what is someone going to be able to do even if they get their hands on a tablet or i-pad? Well, according to the healthcare web site, hitconsultant.net in a November 4, 2014 article, “68% of all healthcare data breaches since 2010 are due to device theft or loss, according to the 2014 Healthcare Breach Report from Bitglass.” Why would anyone want to access patient healthcare data? Because the information can include everything a medical provider has on file for a patient, billing information, addresses, payment information, insurance policy numbers and even prescription information. The data has value on the black market and can be sold or it is used to create false insurance claims, obtain illegal prescriptions and identity theft.
Medical tablet theft and i-pad theft is not an issue to be taken lightly. Should your practice lose a device and a data breach were to occur, there can be significant fines and penalties assessed by the Department of Health and Human Services. Investing in Alpha Thunder Tags and a Classic N10 antenna system can provide the security you need to protect your mobile devices and your patient’s information.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tag, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
The company I work for has been supplying our stores with Alpha Keepers for several years. We started out using them to protect razor blades. We were losing them as fast as we could put them out. It was a constant battle with petty theft and professional shoplifters alike, and when those boxes of Alpha Keepers arrived, we were like: “cue the hallelujah chorus!”. Currently, we use them for all kinds of products. In my store you’ll find skin care, pain relievers, and even family planning products and more safely encased and out on the shelf for customers to pick up and purchase. Now I have been introduced to a whole new product: the Auto Peg Tag by Checkpoint. I was out on a project for three weeks, and I come back to find we’ve received a supply of these and I am trying to determine which is best to stop shoplifting. So, let’s take a look and compare the benefits of them both.
First, let’s take a look at Alpha Keepers. They are clear cases that come in many different sizes for a variety of products. They can be hung with peg attachments or sit directly on the shelf. All you do is drop the product in, close the lid, and lock it, so they are easy to use. They are quickly opened with the S3 key, so they do not impede or slow down customer service. Alpha Keepers are completely reusable. They are compatible with Checkpoint Systems, so the alarm will activate if someone gets too close or attempts to steal. Customers can still see the items inside the cases, and they are free to carry them around the store until ready to purchase. Because of their sizes, you will need some space to store the ones that are not being used to display inventory.
Now, let’s look at the Auto Peg Tag. These are small devices that attach to high risk items that are sold from pegs. They actually fit directly over the peg hole, so they really help make the packaging stronger as well. They come in two different colors: yellow or gray. They do not detract from the packaging, and customers can still pick up the item, turn it over in their hand, and they are free to carry the item around the store. Auto Peg Tags are completely reusable, and they are just as effective the hundredth time as they were the first time they were attached. This is a pin-less attachment so they go on and come off very easily with the S3 Key. And since the Auto Peg Tag is a Checkpoint Systems product, they will cause the alarm to activate as well, if there is an attempt to steal the merchandise before the tag is detached. Because of their size, there is very little space needed for storage.
If you are considering purchasing one of these products to stop shoplifting in your store, you really just have to look at what you sell and how much storage space you have for when they are not in use. Both products will deter theft time and again, and both will alert your staff if a theft does occur. Both products allow your customers shop for the items they came to buy, and they don’t have to stand around waiting on you to open up a locked case. They can still pick up the items, turn them over, and read any directions and information listed on the packaging. As a store manager or owner, you can’t go wrong with either of these. As for my store, we will use both!
For more information on Alpha Keepers, Auto Peg Tags and more, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
THOROFARE, N.J. – Feb. 29, 2016 – Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CKP), a leading global supplier of merchandise availability solutions for the retail industry, today announced that more than 3,000 retail stores are now protecting P&G Gillette razor blades with its innovative iS AutoPeg Tag.
The iS AutoPeg Tag was designed for razor blades and other high-risk items displayed on peg hooks. It snaps quickly and safely on single- or double-hole packaging and can be easily removed at point of sale for reuse.
The iS Autopeg Tag ensures that Gillette razor blades are in stock with customer-friendly availability so shoppers don’t find empty shelves or need to ask store associates to help them make a purchase. In addition, because they are easy to remove at POS, shoppers experience a faster checkout. Moreover, iS Autopeg Tags are very space efficient, visually easy to examine for compliance, enable customers to easily read and touch the packaging, and offer an improved overall look and feel for the category.
According to Shawn Evans, Shave On Shelf Availability Leader, North America, for Procter & Gamble, “We worked with our retailers and Checkpoint to develop iS Autopeg Tags, which can be customized to fit on razor blade packaging so that blades are available and easily accessible to our customers in open displays. The iS AutoPeg Tag has proven to be highly effective at increasing on shelf availability and we are looking to expand to 7,000 – 10,000 retail stores by June 2016.”
“We’re excited to work with P&G and its retailers to ensure the on-shelf availability of their products, and simplify operational processes in stores,” said Per Levin, President of Merchandise Availability Solutions, Checkpoint Systems. “The iS AutoPeg Tag is an innovative product protection solution, which is helping retailers sell more, lose less and simplify store operations.”
About Gillette
For over 110 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivaled product performance – improving the lives of over 750 million men around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave prep (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit http://www.gillette.com/. To see our full selection of products, visit http://www.gillette.com/en/us/shop-now.aspx.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
About Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (www.checkpointsystems.com)
Checkpoint Systems is a global leader in merchandise availability solutions for the retail industry, encompassing loss prevention and merchandise visibility. Checkpoint provides end-to-end solutions enabling retailers to achieve accurate real-time inventory, accelerate the replenishment cycle, prevent out-of-stocks and reduce theft, thus improving merchandise availability and the shopper’s experience. Checkpoint’s solutions are built upon 45 years of radio frequency technology expertise, innovative high-theft and loss-prevention solutions, market-leading software, RFID hardware and comprehensive labeling capabilities to brand, secure and track merchandise from source to shelf. Checkpoint’s customers benefit from increased sales and profits by implementing merchandise availability solutions to ensure the right merchandise is available at the right place and time when consumers are ready to buy. Listed on the NYSE (NYSE: CKP), Checkpoint operates in every major geographic market and employs more than 4700 people worldwide.
For more information about the AutoPeg Tag, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
BG Check Company-3 , Employee BG Checks-2 , Pre employment screening-2
Background Check Companies Are Not All Equal
Have you ever hired a new member for your team and realized sooner than later that you made a terrible mistake? Sometimes it can be that they flip the switch back on and show their true attitude they were able to hide from you in the interview process. Sometimes they can talk the talk, but they turn out to be lazy and unwilling to learn to do the job the right way. When somebody wants a job bad enough they can conceal their worst attributes in order to get money to put in the bank. The good news is you can counsel or retrain the “bad” out of some employees. The bad news comes when you realize you didn’t use a quality background check company and you have to deal with a criminal. Most companies find this out too late, after the damage has been done. Employee background checks are truly one of the most important tasks you can complete before making a job offer to a prospective new hire.
When you commit to performing pre-employment screenings, you have to make sure you are utilizing a company that is going to give you accurate results. A medical office recently made a terrible discovery that could have been avoided if they had chosen a better background check company than they did. Their accountants and lawyers were taking a weekend to audit the books of the medical office when they started seeing that the numbers were not adding up. After some deep diving and investigating, they figured out it was their newest employee that was into the thick of some serious missing cash. They were short $55,000. Not only were they shocked that she was stealing from them; they were also blown away by the news that this young woman was on parole for embezzlement from her previous employer, where she had plead guilty to stealing $250,000. The hiring manager confirmed that they used “some background check company we found on the internet.”
If you don’t employ a reputable partner in performing pre-employment screenings, you may find yourself in a similar situation. You have to be able to rely on employee background checks that are more than just name based searches. It is not enough to pop someone’s name into a search engine and just wait and see what comes up about them. It is also not enough that their name doesn’t appear on the local or national sex offender registry. The truth is many first offenders are not listed on their state’s department of corrections website. You need a company that is going to perform a thorough check of the potential new hire’s background and verify they have the experience, education, and clean criminal record they claim to have. You owe it to yourself as the owner or manager of a reputable business to hire the best and most qualified people in your hiring pool. You also owe it to your customers and your staff to provide a safe environment for them to shop and work in. Imagine having to explain to your other employees or even to your investors that you made the decision to hire someone with a criminal history. It is so not worth it.
Choosing a reliable background check company is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk!
Have you ever hired a new member for your team and realized sooner than later that you made a terrible mistake? Sometimes it can be that they flip the switch back on and show their true attitude they were able to hide from you in the interview process. Sometimes they can talk the talk, but they turn out to be lazy and unwilling to learn to do the job the right way. When somebody wants a job bad enough they can conceal their worst attributes in order to get money to put in the bank. The good news is you can counsel or retrain the “bad” out of some employees. The bad news comes when you realize you didn’t use a quality background check company and you have to deal with a criminal. Most companies find this out too late, after the damage has been done. Employee background checks are truly one of the most important tasks you can complete before making a job offer to a prospective new hire.
When you commit to performing pre-employment screenings, you have to make sure you are utilizing a company that is going to give you accurate results. A medical office recently made a terrible discovery that could have been avoided if they had chosen a better background check company than they did. Their accountants and lawyers were taking a weekend to audit the books of the medical office when they started seeing that the numbers were not adding up. After some deep diving and investigating, they figured out it was their newest employee that was into the thick of some serious missing cash. They were short $55,000. Not only were they shocked that she was stealing from them; they were also blown away by the news that this young woman was on parole for embezzlement from her previous employer, where she had plead guilty to stealing $250,000. The hiring manager confirmed that they used “some background check company we found on the internet.”
If you don’t employ a reputable partner in performing pre-employment screenings, you may find yourself in a similar situation. You have to be able to rely on employee background checks that are more than just name based searches. It is not enough to pop someone’s name into a search engine and just wait and see what comes up about them. It is also not enough that their name doesn’t appear on the local or national sex offender registry. The truth is many first offenders are not listed on their state’s department of corrections website. You need a company that is going to perform a thorough check of the potential new hire’s background and verify they have the experience, education, and clean criminal record they claim to have. You owe it to yourself as the owner or manager of a reputable business to hire the best and most qualified people in your hiring pool. You also owe it to your customers and your staff to provide a safe environment for them to shop and work in. Imagine having to explain to your other employees or even to your investors that you made the decision to hire someone with a criminal history. It is so not worth it.
Choosing a reliable background check company is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk!
Alpha Ink Tag-5 WC blog 115
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-3
Prevent Shoplifting-4
Alpha Ink Tag – An Anti-Theft Device To “DYE” For!
I enjoy discussing different ways to foil shoplifters with retail anti-theft devices. I spent many years in the retail loss prevention field and used a variety of tools to prevent shoplifting. Of all the devices that are on the market one of my favorites is the Alpha Ink Tag. This tag has the benefit of electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection AND ink stains if the device is tampered with. Since my first exposure to using them, I have been sold on their ability to deter thieves.
The Alpha Ink Tag is a small disc with ink packs built into it. If a shoplifter decides to try to pry a tag off of a piece of merchandise, the force used to try to remove the device will break open the ink and it spills on the merchandise. The tags also come available with acoustic magnetic or radio frequency protection compatible with the type of EAS antenna system in your store. Just think about it, double the protection for the price of one device!
I remember when one of the stores I worked for started using these retail anti- theft devices and we first placed them on baseball hats. We had been losing these hats at an alarming rate and in order to reduce the theft we tagged the hats with ink tags. It did not take long to see the rate of theft dropped dramatically. We watched on camera as a suspected shoplifter would pick up a hat, look at it and when they saw the ink tag they put it down and walked into the mall. Once we saw the tags did prevent shoplifting we expanded the selection of items we placed them on to include higher priced jackets, designer jeans and dresses.
You may be wondering if an Alpha Ink Tag actually breaks open when someone attempts to improperly remove it. I can attest to the fact that they do. I recall more than one occasion when a customer attempted to return a pair of designer jeans and there was an ink stain in the area of the waistband where we attached the tags. It was obvious that the person had attempted to place a rag or something underneath the tag to try to prevent spillage but it did not work as intended. It is almost impossible to completely stop all of the ink once the capsules break and a bit of it did leak out. We did not need much of a stain to justify refusing the return.
Once our store started to use these retail anti-theft devices, other stores in the mall where we were located began to use them as well. Frequently a patron with an item from another store would come in and pull out an article of clothing with an ink tag attached to it ask us to remove the tag. They would try to tell us that they left the other store and the clerk forgot to remove it. We had a policy of refusing such requests and explained that the customer would have to return to the store where they made the “purchase”. Proper removal was something we emphasized with our cashiers as part of their training since failure to do so was a major customer service issue.
Since that time I have seen other retailers using Alpha Ink Tags on high dollar comforter sets and even purses and handbags. These devices do not need to be limited to just clothing. They could be used to prevent shoplifting of tablecloths, draperies, sheet sets and much more. Invest in Alpha Ink Tags and turn profits from red ink to black.
Need information on Alpha Ink Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I enjoy discussing different ways to foil shoplifters with retail anti-theft devices. I spent many years in the retail loss prevention field and used a variety of tools to prevent shoplifting. Of all the devices that are on the market one of my favorites is the Alpha Ink Tag. This tag has the benefit of electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection AND ink stains if the device is tampered with. Since my first exposure to using them, I have been sold on their ability to deter thieves.
The Alpha Ink Tag is a small disc with ink packs built into it. If a shoplifter decides to try to pry a tag off of a piece of merchandise, the force used to try to remove the device will break open the ink and it spills on the merchandise. The tags also come available with acoustic magnetic or radio frequency protection compatible with the type of EAS antenna system in your store. Just think about it, double the protection for the price of one device!
I remember when one of the stores I worked for started using these retail anti- theft devices and we first placed them on baseball hats. We had been losing these hats at an alarming rate and in order to reduce the theft we tagged the hats with ink tags. It did not take long to see the rate of theft dropped dramatically. We watched on camera as a suspected shoplifter would pick up a hat, look at it and when they saw the ink tag they put it down and walked into the mall. Once we saw the tags did prevent shoplifting we expanded the selection of items we placed them on to include higher priced jackets, designer jeans and dresses.
You may be wondering if an Alpha Ink Tag actually breaks open when someone attempts to improperly remove it. I can attest to the fact that they do. I recall more than one occasion when a customer attempted to return a pair of designer jeans and there was an ink stain in the area of the waistband where we attached the tags. It was obvious that the person had attempted to place a rag or something underneath the tag to try to prevent spillage but it did not work as intended. It is almost impossible to completely stop all of the ink once the capsules break and a bit of it did leak out. We did not need much of a stain to justify refusing the return. Once our store started to use these retail anti-theft devices, other stores in the mall where we were located began to use them as well. Frequently a patron with an item from another store would come in and pull out an article of clothing with an ink tag attached to it ask us to remove the tag. They would try to tell us that they left the other store and the clerk forgot to remove it. We had a policy of refusing such requests and explained that the customer would have to return to the store where they made the “purchase”. Proper removal was something we emphasized with our cashiers as part of their training since failure to do so was a major customer service issue.
Since that time I have seen other retailers using Alpha Ink Tags on high dollar comforter sets and even purses and handbags. These devices do not need to be limited to just clothing. They could be used to prevent shoplifting of tablecloths, draperies, sheet sets and much more. Invest in Alpha Ink Tags and turn profits from red ink to black.
Need information on Alpha Ink Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
