Mobile Medical Devices Allow Doctors To Visit Patients Online – Those Devices Need To Be Protected With Alpha Thunder Tags Part 2

I stated this two-part series discussing my fascination with a doctor’s office visit the other day. During the visit I found out this particular healthcare provider offers an online service to patients. Doctors can conduct consultations with patients over the patient’s phone, tablet, i-pad or their computer. The patient only needs to sign up for the service and set an appointment. I will add that the consultation is for limited medical issues, as more serious ailments or conditions require the patient to be seen onsite. I did not know for certain how the doctor conducts the visit from their end, but I speculated they are probably using a mobile device as well. This would allow them flexibility to move about the office or clinic while visiting the patient. From my recent research into the growing use of mobile medical devices in hospitals and how they are being used, this would only be a reasonable conclusion. I applauded the clinic for the creativity in reducing patient wait times and embracing technology in this way. Then it dawned on me that while I applaud the clinic for using technology for visits, I was still in a waiting room doing what? FILLING OUT PAPERWORK! While I recognize that electronic health records (ehr) are still a relatively new concept and medical providers are slowly transitioning to them; it seems this provider should have patients using medical mobile devices to complete new patient information. Clinics could protect against i-pad theft and tablet theft by attaching Alpha Thunder Tags to the mobile medical devices and installing Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas in doorways.
     

Alpha Thunder Tags are anti-theft devices that work in conjunction with electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas such as the Checkpoint Classic N10. The Thunder Tag has radio frequency technology built into it that sends out a RF signal. When that signal is picked up by the antenna an audible alarm is activated and flashing LED lights in the antenna are triggered. By attaching the tags to medical mobile devices, hospitals or clinics can prevent their devices from being stolen. This makes it feasible for a care center to allow patients to complete their medical forms online through a device without concern of a tablet theft or i-pad theft. I am sure the question is raised, couldn’t someone just remove the tag and steal the device anyways? No, the Alpha Thunder Tag has a built in tamper alarm that sounds if someone were to try to remove it.      

The question may also be asked, “Why should we allow the patient to hold the i-pad or tablet and take the chance that it may be stolen? We just transfer the information to the computer after the patient fills out the paperwork, so we still comply with ehr requirements.” My response is that this is double work. I am not a proponent of wasted effort. If the patient can do it once on a clinic supplied device there is no need for the receptionist to retype it. You also have two chances for input errors, first by the patient then by the employee. The receptionist can always assist a patient in inputting information if they are unable to do so themselves. In other words, if the technology is already in place, doesn’t it make more sense touse it to the fullest potential?  One other thing about using paper, it is always possible for paperwork to get misplaced or lost. I have even written on cases where paper medical records have been dumped in outdoor trash bins. Why take the chance of patient information breaches because paperwork is mishandled? 
     

Mobile medical devices offer many benefits from online patient visits to a variety of professional medical apps for doctors and nurses. Clinics, hospitals and doctor offices can become more efficient and grow their practices by using these new technologies. Incorporate Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas to protect against tablet theft or i-pad theft and to prevent patient data breaches.

Alpha Thunder Tags are important and we can help it.  Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
 

Mobile Medical Devices Allow Doctors To Visit Patients Online – Those Devices Need To Be Protected With Alpha Thunder Tags Part 1

Have you ever had to go to a doctor’s office and then wait to be seen?  It isn’t much fun, especially when it’s your first visit and you have to complete all of the background information, medical history, insurance information, etc. The other day I had to make such a visit to a doctor’s office/clinic for a family member. The one upside was that this was a new facility so we were the only people waiting to be seen except, the television monitor indicated one other patient was being seen “online”. Online?!  It was interesting that someone not at the clinic was being seen before us. We finished our paperwork and my family member was called in to see the doctor. The wait wasn’t as long as I am used to from other experiences so I was pleasantly surprised. While I waited in the lobby I was reading some of the literature about this particular medical provider chain. I found that they have on online consultation they can provide to their patients. That would explain the online patient that was ahead of us. The picture they showed on the advertisement had a patient with a tablet and their website information. Now, since I write about mobile medical devices and protecting against i-pad theft and tablet theft using Alpha Thunder Tags, I couldn’t help but have my curiosity piqued. Does this provider use medical tablets or i-pads on their end to conduct online visits? If they do, are they taking precautions to protect those devices from theft?
     

Facilities that are using mobile medical devices must be careful to protect those devices or they risk compromising patient information. Medical i-pad theft or tablet theft can be prevented if a facility uses an Alpha Thunder Tag on a device and installs Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas on their entrances/exits. The Alpha Thunder Tag is attached to each mobile device with an adhesive backing. The tags are electronic article surveillance ready, and emit a radio frequency signal that can be read by the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. If someone tries to steal one of the devices protected with a tag, an alarm in the antenna activates an audible signal and the built in flashing LED lights are set off. Employees from the clinic or hospital can respond to the alarm and recover the stolen goods. The Thunder Tag has a tamper alarm so that if someone decides to try to be clever and remove the tag, the alarm built into the tag activates.       

If space for an electronic article surveillance antenna (EAS) in your doorways is a concern, the Checkpoint Classic N10 is the perfect solution. It is designed to take up very little room, fitting comfortably in standard entry ways. Though they do not take up the area that the antennas in large retail stores do, they still provide the same high level detection capabilities. If a tablet theft or i-pad theft is taking place and the device is concealed in a briefcase, purse or in a pocket, the antenna will still detect the Thunder Tag.
     

So, getting back to my clinic visit, I was intrigued by the advertisement and when I got home, I looked up information on the company’s website. According to their information, a patient only needs to set up an account and they can see a doctor using their phone, tablet or computer. The information did not specify how the doctor “sees” the patient. My inkling is that with a computer, the doctor is somewhat locked into one place for consultations. With a mobile device, they could be moving within the clinic and multitasking. It is even possible that an i-pad or tablet would be the better solution so they can do the consultation and still have the ability to look up medical information using medical apps that are now available to healthcare providers. Of course, this is speculation on my part, but with the growing use of mobile medical devices and the fact this provider seems to be on the cutting edge of technology, I would be surprised if they were not using mobile devices for their service.
     

It is great that healthcare providers are using the power of technology to improve patient services and cutting down the length of time required to see a doctor. Mobile devices are helping to make great strides in medicine, even to the point that doctors can consult with each other in remote locations. With all these advances, it only makes sense to protect against medical i-pad theft and tablet theft with Alpha Thunder Tags and Classic N10 antennas. Why risk losing a device when security is a phone call away!

Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags?  Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.

Mobile Medical Device Theft Can Lead To Damaged Reputation; Alpha Thunder Tags Provide Protection Part 1

In my retail job and my library job, I have to occassionally take online training modules reminding me of the importance of information security. The trainings remind me that I need to be careful when creating passwords, because when they are too easy, hackers can figure them out. I am also reminded that I should not open emails and especially the attachments if I don’t recognize the sender. Viruses and malware may be slipped into my computer if I am careless. One warning I recently came across in a training and I had not considered before is that when a company suffers a security breach, they risk damage to their brand and reputation. I realized how true that statement is. Think about the major retailers that have had data breaches and customer credit card information has been compromised. Consumer confidence begins to wane and stock prices drop. Customers start to question whether it is wise to shop at those locations. A company’s reputation is tied to a lot of different factors, but trust is near the top of that list. The same can be said for medical care facilities. When a cyber attack takes place or patient information is mis-handled, it makes the news and patients become fearful that their information is vulnerable. With the increased use of medical mobile devices,concerns over i-pad theft, tablet theft and medical laptop theft have become the source of government concern. Medical providers are expected to protect patient information and Alpha Thunder Tags can help with that.

Alpha Thunder Tags used with electronic article surveillance antennas (EAS) like the Checkpoint Classic N10, provide extreme protection against tablet theft, i-pad theft or theft of any other mobile medical device. The tags are attached with an adhesive backing to a mobile device and once in place, can only be removed with a detachment tool. Anyone else attempting to pull it off will activate a tamper alarm built into the tag. The Alpha Thunder tag is designed to operate on a specific radio frequency and when it is carried into the receiving range of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, the antenna senses the tag and sounds an alarm. Along with the audible alarm, lights built into the antenna begin to flash when the protected i-pad or tablet is being carried out. The commotion alerts nearby employees that a tagged device is being removed from the building. They can then respond to the alarm and recover the item that the person had in their possession.

Is all this security necessary for your facility? Whether you have a small office or are in charge of a large hospital, the government is pushing for medical providers to transition to electronic health records (EHRs). The idea is that the electronic records make it easier for health care providers to keep accurate records on patients and to access information. The concern that healthcare providers must consider is the possibility of hacking or technology theft. In the event it is believed patient information is at risk, it is the responsibility of the medical facility where the loss took place to report it to the United States Department of Health and Human Services. According to the HHS.gov website http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/breach-notification/ “Following a breach of unsecured protected health information, covered entities must provide notification of the breach to affected individuals, the Secretary, and, in certain circumstances, to the media.” (emphasis on media mine). Once information on a breach is in the media what does that mean for your reputation? In part two of this series we will take a closer look at what it can mean for any business when negative information gets in the media.

Patient privacy and security are of paramount importance for health care professionals. Tablet theft or i-pad theft from a facility can have severe ramifications if someone was able to hack into patient information stored on a device. Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas can give you the protection you need to help keep your company’s reputation in tact.

Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.