Remember the cute children’s song, “Where, O Where Has My Little Dog Gone?” What a fun little ditty about a lost dog and a search to find him. But what if we change the words just a bit and make it, “Where, O Where Has My Mobile Device Gone?” That’s not quite so cute (and it doesn’t really rhyme so well either). It is especially not so funny if it involves a medical i-pad theft or medical tablet theft. The little dog in the song may very well find his way home, but will the mobile device make it back to where it belongs? Probably not. Medical providers have to be on guard to ensure that if they are using mobile devices in their practices they are keeping both the information on the device and the device itself secure. What is the best way to do this? Encryption of a device is imperative to protect patient/client data. Using an Alpha Thunder Tag is critical to prevent an i-pad theft or tablet theft.
Mobile devices can be protected by attaching an Alpha Thunder Tag to them and installing Checkpoint Classic N10 Antennas at building exits. The tag is built so that when it is within a certain distance from an antenna, it will cause the alarm in the antennas to activate. Alarms consist of flashing LED lights and a very loud alert sound. These alerts ensure that staff and employees will hear when someone is trying to carry a device out of the building. Alerts also provide staff an opportunity to get to the door where the alarm is sounding and retrieve the item being stolen. The Thunder Tag is also designed to be tamper proof, so if someone should try to remove the tag in order to steal a device, the tag has a built in alarm that is set off and warn staff that an attempted theft is taking place.
If you have a smaller office area and are concerned about the space a Checkpoint Classic N10 Antenna would take up, you can rest assured that the space requirements are minimal. This antenna was designed with small spaces in mind, so the footprint it requires is very small, and yet it performs as well as larger electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Should a person, attempt an i-pad theft or tablet theft, the antenna will detect the Alpha Thunder Tag.
So the question becomes does it really matter if a mobile medical device is stolen if it is encrypted? It does matter. While encryption does make it more difficult for a thief to get information from a device such as a laptop or tablet, it is not impossible. In an article in techopedia.com , https://www.techopedia.com/definition/25054/health-care-data-encryption titled, “Health Care Data Encryption” the author discusses what data encryption is and why health care providers should use it. The article states, “Consideration of EHR( electronic health reporting, my clarification in parentheses) data encryption is wise for health care providers, administrators, IT personnel and health facilities. Although encryption is not foolproof, it’s better than plain text records (emphasis mine)”. Mobile medical devices could be stolen and the information stored on them compromised. Not only does this put patient information at risk, it could result in significant fines and penalties for the practice or care unit.
Can someone gain access to medical devices and steal them? Absolutely. Handheld devices like anything else can get in the way when a patient is being treated or if a care provider becomes distracted. It isn’t difficult to imagine a scenario where someone may put down a device to take a phone call or consult with a partner or patient and then forget to pick the tablet or i-pad up. How about just laying the device on a counter where patients check in and out? Once the device is out of a person’s immediate control, it is subject to being picked up or simply lost. Once a device cannot be accounted for, it should be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services. It should not be assumed that a Mobile Medical Device will find its’ way home again.
Medical tablet theft and/or i-pad theft must be treated as very real possibilities. Using an Alpha Thunder Tag and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas along with data encryption on your devices can help to ensure your practice does not experience a damaging loss.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
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Need a Prescription To Prevent Mobile Medical Device Theft? Use An Alpha Thunder Tag And Classic N10 Antenna.
The use of mobile technology in healthcare is becoming routine. Go into a hospital and laptop computers on carts are wheeled around from room to room as nurses assist patients and gather personal medical information. In a dentist office the staff are calling out patients from the tablet they are holding with the patient’s information at their fingertip. Go to a corner pharmacy for a nurse practitioner visit and the first thing to do is complete a patient profile on an i-pad device attached to the counter of a private both or table. Electronic storage of information is so much easier than the cumbersome task of filling out form after form of paperwork. The opportunities for dropping pages or losing a patient’s folder are less likely when the information is stored in a digital format. But Doctor’s offices aren’t the only ones that benefit from using mobile medical devices. Pharmacies are also finding that the same devices can help improve the delivery and accuracy of their services. One precaution that all medical providers must take however, is to protect against i-pad theft or tablet theft. Not only is the device itself an expense no one wants to replace, but the lost data is more of a concern since confidential patient information is at risk once a device is missing.
It is possible to protect against tablet theft or i-pad theft if an office will invest in two things, a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna system for each point of exit to a building and Alpha Thunder Tags. The Classic N10 antenna is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that picks up radio frequency signals emitted from an EAS tag, such as Alpha Thunder Tags. When the tag is within a certain distance from the antenna, the antenna alarm activates and sounds loud enough that staff members can respond and recover an item being removed from the building. Occasionally a thief will drop an item when an alarm sounds, again offering an opportunity for recovery of stolen equipment.
The Thunder Tags are small enough that they can be applied to almost any mobile devices using an adhesive supplied by the manufacturer. Thunder Tags have a tamper alarm that will sound if someone attempts to remove it from a device without using the proper detachment tool. The 3-alarm Alpha Thunder Tags also have an internal alarm that sounds when an item protected with a tag is removed from a building through the EAS antennas. With the protection of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna and the tags, mobile medical devices will be safe within the hospital or office environment.
Pharmacies can benefit with the introduction of mobile medical technology, just as other medical fields are doing. According to a report titled “Evaluating Mobile Medical Applications” by Conor Hanrahan, Timothy Dy Aungst and Sabrina Cole, from the web site www.ashp.org, one application being explored used the camera in mobile devices. The researchers state, “Another ongoing project includes utilizing the camera of a smart device to conduct pill identification” (pg6). While the pill or a picture of a pill should be no cause for privacy concern, what if a patient shares information through a mobile device because they have mixed up pills or cannot recall what a pill is? A patient’s personal information may be on record with the pharmacy and that information helps them determine the pill a client sends in a picture. Strict control of mobile devices is critical so this information is not compromised. The report also claims that, “Future research will investigate the utilization of mobile apps to improve patient health through diet and exercise trackers, and as ways to increase medication adherence.”
Increased pharmacy apps will continue to drive mobile device use in drugstores, pharmacies and other drug dispensaries. Maintaining client confidentiality and protecting the devices is extremely important to the facility and the patients. I-pad theft and tablet theft can be prevented if Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas are placed at entrances/exits and Alpha Thunder Tags are installed on every mobile medical device.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
http://www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Bookstore/For-Institutions/Mobile-Medical-Apps.pdf
The use of mobile technology in healthcare is becoming routine. Go into a hospital and laptop computers on carts are wheeled around from room to room as nurses assist patients and gather personal medical information. In a dentist office the staff are calling out patients from the tablet they are holding with the patient’s information at their fingertip. Go to a corner pharmacy for a nurse practitioner visit and the first thing to do is complete a patient profile on an i-pad device attached to the counter of a private both or table. Electronic storage of information is so much easier than the cumbersome task of filling out form after form of paperwork. The opportunities for dropping pages or losing a patient’s folder are less likely when the information is stored in a digital format. But Doctor’s offices aren’t the only ones that benefit from using mobile medical devices. Pharmacies are also finding that the same devices can help improve the delivery and accuracy of their services. One precaution that all medical providers must take however, is to protect against i-pad theft or tablet theft. Not only is the device itself an expense no one wants to replace, but the lost data is more of a concern since confidential patient information is at risk once a device is missing.
It is possible to protect against tablet theft or i-pad theft if an office will invest in two things, a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna system for each point of exit to a building and Alpha Thunder Tags. The Classic N10 antenna is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) detection system that picks up radio frequency signals emitted from an EAS tag, such as Alpha Thunder Tags. When the tag is within a certain distance from the antenna, the antenna alarm activates and sounds loud enough that staff members can respond and recover an item being removed from the building. Occasionally a thief will drop an item when an alarm sounds, again offering an opportunity for recovery of stolen equipment.
The Thunder Tags are small enough that they can be applied to almost any mobile devices using an adhesive supplied by the manufacturer. Thunder Tags have a tamper alarm that will sound if someone attempts to remove it from a device without using the proper detachment tool. The 3-alarm Alpha Thunder Tags also have an internal alarm that sounds when an item protected with a tag is removed from a building through the EAS antennas. With the protection of the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna and the tags, mobile medical devices will be safe within the hospital or office environment.
Pharmacies can benefit with the introduction of mobile medical technology, just as other medical fields are doing. According to a report titled “Evaluating Mobile Medical Applications” by Conor Hanrahan, Timothy Dy Aungst and Sabrina Cole, from the web site www.ashp.org, one application being explored used the camera in mobile devices. The researchers state, “Another ongoing project includes utilizing the camera of a smart device to conduct pill identification” (pg6). While the pill or a picture of a pill should be no cause for privacy concern, what if a patient shares information through a mobile device because they have mixed up pills or cannot recall what a pill is? A patient’s personal information may be on record with the pharmacy and that information helps them determine the pill a client sends in a picture. Strict control of mobile devices is critical so this information is not compromised. The report also claims that, “Future research will investigate the utilization of mobile apps to improve patient health through diet and exercise trackers, and as ways to increase medication adherence.”
Increased pharmacy apps will continue to drive mobile device use in drugstores, pharmacies and other drug dispensaries. Maintaining client confidentiality and protecting the devices is extremely important to the facility and the patients. I-pad theft and tablet theft can be prevented if Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas are placed at entrances/exits and Alpha Thunder Tags are installed on every mobile medical device.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
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i-pads Fill A Need In Pediatric Intensive Care Units; Protect Those Devices With Alpha Thunder Tags Part 2
In part I of this article I discussed the impact one hospital found when mothers who had just given birth were unable to visit their newborn babies who may be in a Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for one reason or another. Sometimes it is the mother who is incapable of being able to move to the baby’s location due to surgery or it may be the baby is isolated for one reason or another. One particular hospital began using i-pads to give moms the ability to see and hear their child, thereby easing some of their concern and anxiousness. Another program developed on a similar premise, provides a parent who has to work and can’t be with their child the ability to see the infant through the benefit of hospital i-pads. I will discuss this unique program in a moment, but I want to first mention my concerns about the possibility of i-pad theft from hospitals that use the technology. While the benefits associated with using mobile medical devices such as i-pads and tablets are enormous, I am also aware of the strong possibility of these devices being targeted by thieves. By setting up Checkpoint Classic N10 electronic article surveillance antennas at building entrances and exits and placing Alpha Thunder Tags on all devices, medical centers can minimize the risk of i-pad theft and the impact that would have on such programs.
When placed at building entrances and exits and even access points to public places which would include restrooms, Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas can pick up the radio frequency emitted from Alpha Thunder Tags. Tags that have been placed on tablets, i-pads or any mobile medical device will cause an antenna to sound an alarm and lights built into the antenna to flash when the tag is carried too close to the antenna. Thieves with stolen merchandise frequently drop the stolen item(s) when an EAS alarm sounds. Even if they don’t drop the item or attempt to run, staff can answer the alarm and get back items that would have been stolen otherwise.
Earlier I alluded to another program that hospitals are using i-pads to connect parents who have to work and cannot see their baby in Pediatric Intensive Care. “In MGH’s (Massachusetts General Hospital) Pediatric Intensive Care Unit there are mobile computer stations that parents can connect to via an i-pad provided by the hospital. If a parent must work or is unable to be at the hospital at the time rounds are being conducted, a physician can connect with them using the tools…” This article is posted in fiercehealthcare.com by Katie Dvorak, Nov 5, 2015.
Why is this an important topic to me? My wife and I have twins who are now healthy, young adults, but when they were born they were premature and were in pediatric Intensive Care. My wife was allowed to briefly be taken down to their room to view them through the window. Neither of us could hold the children for the first week or two. Had the technology been available to us at that time, it would have helped to ease our concerns by being able to view our children through the camera on an i-pad. Even once we could hold them it was only briefly then they were back in their incubators. Bills still had to be paid and I had to work so I spent hours at work worrying about the babies when it would have eased my mind to have had the ability to view them every so often. When my wife was released from the hospital our twins stayed in for nearly five additional weeks and so one of us was regularly at the hospital visiting the babies. Mobile medical technology in a tablet or i-pad would have made our days somewhat easier.
It is from this perspective that I say Great Job to those hospitals that are using technology to make life easier on families separated from their babies for assorted reasons. I would ask that these hospitals take care to prevent i-pad theft by using Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas to prevent scoundrels from getting away with hospital i-pads and ruining what could be a perfect family connection.
Need more information on i-pad theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
In part I of this article I discussed the impact one hospital found when mothers who had just given birth were unable to visit their newborn babies who may be in a Pediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for one reason or another. Sometimes it is the mother who is incapable of being able to move to the baby’s location due to surgery or it may be the baby is isolated for one reason or another. One particular hospital began using i-pads to give moms the ability to see and hear their child, thereby easing some of their concern and anxiousness. Another program developed on a similar premise, provides a parent who has to work and can’t be with their child the ability to see the infant through the benefit of hospital i-pads. I will discuss this unique program in a moment, but I want to first mention my concerns about the possibility of i-pad theft from hospitals that use the technology. While the benefits associated with using mobile medical devices such as i-pads and tablets are enormous, I am also aware of the strong possibility of these devices being targeted by thieves. By setting up Checkpoint Classic N10 electronic article surveillance antenns at building entrances and exits and placing Alpha Thunder Tags on all devices, medical centers can minimize the risk of i-pad theft and the impact that would have on such programs.
When placed at building entrances and exits and even access points to public places which would include restrooms, Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas can pick up the radio frequency emitted from Alpha Thunder Tags. Tags that have been placed on tablets, i-pads or any mobile medical device will cause an antenna to sound an alarm and lights built into the antenna to flash when the tag is carried too close to the antenna. Thieves with stolen merchandise frequently drop the stolen item(s) when an EAS alarm sounds. Even if they don’t drop the item or attempt to run, staff can answer the alarm and get back items that would have been stolen otherwise.
Earlier I alluded to another program that hospitals are using i-pads to connect parents who have to work and cannot see their baby in Pediatric Intensive Care. “In MGH’s (Massachusetts General Hospital) Pediatric Intensive Care Unit there are mobile computer stations that parents can connect to via an i-pad provided by the hospital. If a parent must work or is unable to be at the hospital at the time rounds are being conducted, a physician can connect with them using the tools…” This article is posted in fiercehealthcare.com by Katie Dvorak, Nov 5, 2015.
Why is this an important topic to me? My wife and I have twins who are now healthy, young adults, but when they were born they were premature and were in pediatric Intensive Care. My wife was allowed to briefly be taken down to their room to view them through the window. Neither of us could hold the children for the first week or two. Had the technology been available to us at that time, it would have helped to ease our concerns by being able to view our children through the camera on an i-pad. Even once we could hold them it was only briefly then they were back in their incubators. Bills still had to be paid and I had to work so I spent hours at work worrying about the babies when it would have eased my mind to have had the ability to view them every so often. When my wife was released from the hospital our twins stayed in for nearly five additional weeks and so one of us was regularly at the hospital visiting the babies. Mobile medical technology in a tablet or i-pad would have made our days somewhat easier.
It is from this perspective that I say Great Job to those hospitals that are using technology to make life easier on families separated from their babies for assorted reasons. I would ask that these hospitals take care to prevent i-pad theft by using Alpha Thunder Tags and Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas to prevent scoundrels from getting away with hospital i-pads and ruining what could be a perfect family connection.
Need more information on i-pad theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
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i-pads Fill A Need In Pediatric Intensive Care Units; Protect Those Devices With Alpha Thunder Tags Part I
Imagine being the parent of a newborn baby and not being able to see your child because they are in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and being closely monitored by doctors and nurses. Some of these infants are in incubators hooked up to monitors and feeding tubes. Then there are the mothers who are occasionally unable to be moved from their rooms due to C-sections or difficult deliveries that keep them bedridden. These moms are not always able to go to the Pediatric ICU to visit their child(ren). There are now hospitals that provide i-pads to patients who may not be able to get see their baby right away due to circumstances beyond their control. These hospitals must take precautions to protect against i-pad theft or computer tablet theft. They can do so by using Alpha Thunder Tags on their mobile devices.
Alpha Thunder Tags can be attached to mobile medical devices and when used in conjunction with electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas, such as the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, help to both deter and detect theft. The tag is designed to activate the alarm built into an EAS antenna when it is carried into the proximity of the antenna. The antenna emits a loud beeping noise and LED lights flash during an activation, drawing the attention of anyone in the area. When staff hear the noise, they respond to the door and can stop the person setting off the alarm and determine the cause of the alert. If the cause is due to a mobile device being removed from the building, employees have the opportunity to recover it. The Alpha Thunder Tag also has a built in alarm that will activate even if someone gets through the doors and into the street or parking lot.
Additionally, when attached to a mobile device, there is a tamper alarm that sets. Should a thief attempt an i-pad theft, by removing an Alpha Thunder Tag, the tamper alarm will sound a loud, piercing noise. Again, hospital staff can respond to the location and recover the device. The tag and the Checkpoint N10 antennas together provide a physical and visual deterrent which keep i-pads or computer tablets in hospitals and available to the patients who need them.
Where are i-pads being used to help moms and babies connect? One place that the connection is being made is at Cedar-Sinai Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. On their website, cedars-sinai.edu, in an article, “iPads Help New Moms Connect With Their Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”, the story describes how some mothers are unable to see their newborns right away and this can cause anxiety and stress. They have called their program “Baby Time” and it allows the mother to see her newborn when she is in another area of the hospital and cannot get to her child. The hospital brings an i-pad to the mother and then an i-pad is used at the other end to allow the mother to see her baby and see how he/she is doing. The mother is able to see her baby and feel more at ease at the situation. One mother mentioned in the article said that “… the program meant feeling just a little closer to her baby girl and the comfort of being able to hear the physician explain her infant’s condition.”
In part two of this article we will look at other areas where similar use of i-pads and tablets are being used to bridge the divide when parents can’t visit their newborns. Suffice it to say, the thought of a possible i-pad theft from a program such as this is unconscionable, but the possibility exists. Alpha Thunder Tags can help prevent such a situation.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Imagine being the parent of a newborn baby and not being able to see your child because they are in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and being closely monitored by doctors and nurses. Some of these infants are in incubators hooked up to monitors and feeding tubes. Then there are the mothers who are occasionally unable to be moved from their rooms due to C-sections or difficult deliveries that keep them bedridden. These moms are not always able to go to the Pediatric ICU to visit their child(ren). There are now hospitals that provide i-pads to patients who may not be able to get see their baby right away due to circumstances beyond their control. These hospitals must take precautions to protect against i-pad theft or computer tablet theft. They can do so by using Alpha Thunder Tags on their mobile devices.
Alpha Thunder Tags can be attached to mobile medical devices and when used in conjunction with electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas, such as the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, help to both deter and detect theft. The tag is designed to activate the alarm built into an EAS antenna when it is carried into the proximity of the antenna. The antenna emits a loud beeping noise and LED lights flash during an activation, drawing the attention of anyone in the area. When staff hear the noise, they respond to the door and can stop the person setting off the alarm and determine the cause of the alert. If the cause is due to a mobile device being removed from the building, employees have the opportunity to recover it. The Alpha Thunder Tag also has a built in alarm that will activate even if someone gets through the doors and into the street or parking lot.
Additionally, when attached to a mobile device, there is a tamper alarm that sets. Should a thief attempt an i-pad theft, by removing an Alpha Thunder Tag, the tamper alarm will sound a loud, piercing noise. Again, hospital staff can respond to the location and recover the device. The tag and the Checkpoint N10 antennas together provide a physical and visual deterrent which keep i-pads or computer tablets in hospitals and available to the patients who need them.
Where are i-pads being used to help moms and babies connect? One place that the connection is being made is at Cedar-Sinai Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. On their website, cedars-sinai.edu, in an article, “iPads Help New Moms Connect With Their Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit”, the story describes how some mothers are unable to see their newborns right away and this can cause anxiety and stress. They have called their program “Baby Time” and it allows the mother to see her newborn when she is in another area of the hospital and cannot get to her child. The hospital brings an i-pad to the mother and then an i-pad is used at the other end to allow the mother to see her baby and see how he/she is doing. The mother is able to see her baby and feel more at ease at the situation. One mother mentioned in the article said that “… the program meant feeling just a little closer to her baby girl and the comfort of being able to hear the physician explain her infant’s condition.”
In part two of this article we will look at other areas where similar use of i-pads and tablets are being used to bridge the divide when parents can’t visit their newborns. Suffice it to say, the thought of a possible i-pad theft from a program such as this is unconscionable, but the possibility exists. Alpha Thunder Tags can help prevent such a situation.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
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Medical i-pad Use For Veteran Outreach Grows; Keep i-pads Secure With Alpha Thunder Tags
As a military veteran myself and a concerned citizen who cares deeply for our combat veteran’s, I am very interested in the steps taken by our Veteran’s Administration hospitals to care for our wounded warriors. I believe these soldiers deserve the best possible care for treating both their physical wounds and their mental wounds. So, it was interesting for me find that V.A. hospitals are now using i-pads to help both physicians and V.A. social workers in assisting veterans. According to a July 22, 2014 story by Keith Gottschalk in pittsburgh.va.gov, the VA Pittsburgh Hospital received 600 i-pads that June. Some of the benefits for clinicians that were listed:
• Convenient access to real-time clinical information
• Mobile access to patient information throughout the medical center
• Easy access to medical tools at work, home and on the go
• Secure communication between patients and providers; and
• Improved access to patient-generated data
As the hospitals find the value of using such devices and increase their spending on them, there is a definite risk of i-pad theft or tablet theft. Making sure this does not happen should be a priority and using an Alpha Thunder Tag can decrease the chance of pilferage.
The Alpha Thunder Tag works with an electronic article surveillance antenna system. When an antenna, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is set up at a door, if a tagged device is carried into radio frequency range, an alarm in the antenna is set off. The loud, sharp, distinctive noise alerts employees that a tagged item is being carried out. Staff can verify that the person carrying the device has the authority to do so, or they can recover it from someone who is trying to steal it. Concern about possible tampering with the tag is alleviated due to the tamper proof nature of the Alpha Thunder Tag. If someone were to try to remove the tag, the tag alarms and like the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, staff can respond to the alarm and prevent a theft from occurring.
Is i-pad theft or tablet theft a concern for V.A. hospitals? It can be, just as it is for any other agency that incorporates the devices into their operations. One example, found on the website va.gov, a reported theft on 7/29/2015, involved an employee who took VA issued hardware from a government vehicle and transferred it to her own car at the end of her shift. She then stopped at a store on the way home and someone broke into her car stealing VA issued equipment including an i-pad, cell phone and car key. In an article posed on May 27, 2014 in Denverpost.com, two VA hospital laptop computers were stolen from a lab. My point is, mobile computing devices are a great addition to VA hospitals but do need to be secured.
I don’t want to lose sight of the benefits of mobile medical devices in VA hospitals. In another article in goerie.com, March 27, 2016, Gerry Weiss reported on a licensed social worker from the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center, who is meeting with combat veterans who are not comfortable around crowds or people they don’t know. Some of the veterans she is meeting with are homeless or living out of shelters. The story describes how the social worker uses a hospital i-pad to arrange meetings using Skype to arrange meetings between the veterans and behavioral health specialists. Such stories are encouraging, and demonstrate that even our homeless veterans have an opportunity to get assistance they might otherwise not receive. Computer tablets and i-pads are making these inroads possible.
Adding Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas at hospital entrances and placing an Alpha Thunder Tag on all medical mobile devices, can prevent i-pad theft at V.A. hospitals as well as other medical facilities. Preventing thieves from stealing property that adds so much richness to the treatment of patients must be a priority. Stealing anything that hinders a patient’s care should make us angry. Stealing devices that help our veterans is unconscionable.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
As a military veteran myself and a concerned citizen who cares deeply for our combat veteran’s, I am very interested in the steps taken by our Veteran’s Administration hospitals to care for our wounded warriors. I believe these soldiers deserve the best possible care for treating both their physical wounds and their mental wounds. So, it was interesting for me find that V.A. hospitals are now using i-pads to help both physicians and V.A. social workers in assisting veterans. According to a July 22, 2014 story by Keith Gottschalk in pittsburgh.va.gov, the VA Pittsburgh Hospital received 600 i-pads that June. Some of the benefits for clinicians that were listed:
• Convenient access to real-time clinical information
• Mobile access to patient information throughout the medical center
• Easy access to medical tools at work, home and on the go
• Secure communication between patients and providers; and
• Improved access to patient-generated data
As the hospitals find the value of using such devices and increase their spending on them, there is a definite risk of i-pad theft or tablet theft. Making sure this does not happen should be a priority and using an Alpha Thunder Tag can decrease the chance of pilferage.
The Alpha Thunder Tag works with an electronic article surveillance antenna system. When an antenna, such as a Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna is set up at a door, if a tagged device is carried into radio frequency range, an alarm in the antenna is set off. The loud, sharp, distinctive noise alerts employees that a tagged item is being carried out. Staff can verify that the person carrying the device has the authority to do so, or they can recover it from someone who is trying to steal it. Concern about possible tampering with the tag is alleviated due to the tamper proof nature of the Alpha Thunder Tag. If someone were to try to remove the tag, the tag alarms and like the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna, staff can respond to the alarm and prevent a theft from occurring.
Is i-pad theft or tablet theft a concern for V.A. hospitals? It can be, just as it is for any other agency that incorporates the devices into their operations. One example, found on the website va.gov, a reported theft on 7/29/2015, involved an employee who took VA issued hardware from a government vehicle and transferred it to her own car at the end of her shift. She then stopped at a store on the way home and someone broke into her car stealing VA issued equipment including an i-pad, cell phone and car key. In an article posed on May 27, 2014 in Denverpost.com, two VA hospital laptop computers were stolen from a lab. My point is, mobile computing devices are a great addition to VA hospitals but do need to be secured.
I don’t want to lose sight of the benefits of mobile medical devices in VA hospitals. In another article in goerie.com, March 27, 2016, Gerry Weiss reported on a licensed social worker from the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center, who is meeting with combat veterans who are not comfortable around crowds or people they don’t know. Some of the veterans she is meeting with are homeless or living out of shelters.The story describes how the social worker uses a hospital i-pad to arrange meetings using Skype to arrange meetings between the veterans and behavioral health specialists. Such stories are encouraging, and demonstrate that even our homeless veterans have an opportunity to get assistance they might otherwise not receive. Computer tablets and i-pads are making these inroads possible.
Adding Checkpoint Classic N10 antennas at hospital entrances and placing an Alpha Thunder Tag on all medical mobile devices, can prevent i-pad theft at V.A. hospitals as well as other medical facilities. Preventing thieves from stealing property that adds so much richness to the treatment of patients must be a priority. Stealing anything that hinders a patient’s care should make us angry. Stealing devices that help our veterans is unconscionable.
Get more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
