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Busy Offices Can Lead To Medical Device Theft; Unless Alpha Thunder Tags Are A Part Of Your Practice
What distracts you during your busy day? I ask this because as I was preparing to write this article, I started thinking about what my days look like and what impact it has on what I may be doing at any given time. Both of my jobs are customer service focused. I work in an academic library as an overnight shift supervisor and in my job I assist students with research questions, finding materials and sometimes even help someone who is stressed out in the wee hours of the morning. In my second job I work in retail on the sales floor providing customer service, as well as completing other assigned tasks. In both cases, I have been in situations where I was working on paperwork or using some type of device and put it down momentarily to assist someone and when I returned, I could not immediately recall what I did with the item. Now, imagine working in a clinic or doctor’s office and you are using mobile medical devices to help patients. How easy would it be in a hectic situation, to put down a mobile medical device and experience an i-pad theft or tablet theft because a thief took advantage of a situation and grabbed a device and walked out of the building without anyone’s knowledge?
How can you protect your mobile devices against theft in a busy, customer service oriented situation? What if your mobile devices were protected with Alpha Thunder Tags? An Alpha Thunder Tag is an anti-theft device that is attached to mobile devices and protects against tablet theft and i-pad theft by working with an electronic article surveillance system. If a device has a Thunder Tag on it and someone walks out a door protected by an electronic article surveillance antenna the alarm on the antenna will sound and flashing lights alert staff that a device is being removed. The device itself has an alarm built into it that activates if a thief continues through the antenna and out the door. Even if multiple people are exiting at roughly the same time, the alarming device will identify the offending party.
I reflect on watching the activity in an emergency room when I have had the need to be in one. Medical staff checking on patients, people trying to get checked in, everyone wanting immediate assistance, and suddenly an ambulance pulls up and a gurney is being wheeled past, it can appear to be controlled chaos. How susceptible to theft is a medical facility in a situation like this? I can easily picture a situation where a nurse or physician is entering information on a mobile device and unexpectedly an emergency situation requires their attention and the device is put down so they can address the crisis. In that moment the device becomes secondary and is forgotten. Someone in the room spies the device and picks it up and leaves the building. The device and all patient information contained on it is stolen. The potential ramification of patient data compromise becomes a real threat. Not only could patient information be stolen and create problems for the clients who had information stored on the device, the fines and penalties for a medical data breach can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Installation of an electronic article surveillance system and using Alpha Thunder Tags will prevent medical i-pad theft and tablet theft. Electronic article surveillance antennas can be installed at all facility entrances, including employee doors. By doing so, even if a staff member were to forget they had a protected device in their pocket when they leave for the day the alarm will sound and they will be reminded to return the device before going home. While it is not a pleasant thought, it would also protect the facility from a dishonest employee who may attempt to steal a device. And I failed to mention, should someone attempt to remove an Alpha Thunder Tag, a tamper alarm would sound alerting staff of a potential theft attempt.
Protect your patient’s information from data breaches and protect your practice from potential lawsuits and onerous fines. Use Alpha Thunder Tags on your mobile medical devices and install electronic article surveillance antennas at your doorways.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
What distracts you during your busy day? I ask this because as I was preparing to write this article, I started thinking about what my days look like and what impact it has on what I may be doing at any given time. Both of my jobs are customer service focused. I work in an academic library as an overnight shift supervisor and in my job I assist students with research questions, finding materials and sometimes even help someone who is stressed out in the wee hours of the morning. In my second job I work in retail on the sales floor providing customer service, as well as completing other assigned tasks. In both cases, I have been in situations where I was working on paperwork or using some type of device and put it down momentarily to assist someone and when I returned, I could not immediately recall what I did with the item. Now, imagine working in a clinic or doctor’s office and you are using mobile medical devices to help patients. How easy would it be in a hectic situation, to put down a mobile medical device and experience an i-pad theft or tablet theft because a thief took advantage of a situation and grabbed a device and walked out of the building without anyone’s knowledge?
How can you protect your mobile devices against theft in a busy, customer service oriented situation? What if your mobile devices were protected with Alpha Thunder Tags? An Alpha Thunder Tag is an anti-theft device that is attached to mobile devices and protects against tablet theft and i-pad theft by working with an electronic article surveillance system. If a device has a Thunder Tag on it and someone walks out a door protected by an electronic article surveillance antenna the alarm on the antenna will sound and flashing lights alert staff that a device is being removed. The device itself has an alarm built into it that activates if a thief continues through the antenna and out the door. Even if multiple people are exiting at roughly the same time, the alarming device will identify the offending party.
I reflect on watching the activity in an emergency room when I have had the need to be in one. Medical staff checking on patients, people trying to get checked in, everyone wanting immediate assistance, and suddenly an ambulance pulls up and a gurney is being wheeled past, it can appear to be controlled chaos. How susceptible to theft is a medical facility in a situation like this? I can easily picture a situation where a nurse or physician is entering information on a mobile device and unexpectedly an emergency situation requires their attention and the device is put down so they can address the crisis. In that moment the device becomes secondary and is forgotten. Someone in the room spies the device and picks it up and leaves the building. The device and all patient information contained on it is stolen. The potential ramification of patient data compromise becomes a real threat. Not only could patient information be stolen and create problems for the clients who had information stored on the device, the fines and penalties for a medical data breach can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Installation of an electronic article surveillance system and using Alpha Thunder Tags will prevent medical i-pad theft and tablet theft. Electronic article surveillance antennas can be installed at all facility entrances, including employee doors. By doing so, even if a staff member were to forget they had a protected device in their pocket when they leave for the day the alarm will sound and they will be reminded to return the device before going home. While it is not a pleasant thought, it would also protect the facility from a dishonest employee who may attempt to steal a device. And I failed to mention, should someone attempt to remove an Alpha Thunder Tag, a tamper alarm would sound alerting staff of a potential theft attempt.
Protect your patient’s information from data breaches and protect your practice from potential lawsuits and onerous fines. Use Alpha Thunder Tags on your mobile medical devices and install electronic article surveillance antennas at your doorways.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Medical tablet theft and i-pad theft are an increasing concern as more and more medical providers and facilities see the value of this technology and are integrating it in the healthcare profession. The theft of an i-pad carries with it not only the actual cost of the hardware, but also the potential compromise of patient information. I have written previously that one solution to prevent the theft of medical i-pads is the use of Alpha Thunder Tags and electronic article surveillance antennas. It has crossed my mind that if medical facilities can protect their own devices with anti-theft devices, what about the potential to also protect patient’s tablets and i-pads from theft?
Before I go on, you may be not be familiar with Alpha Thunder Tags so let me first tell you a little about what the tag is and how it prevents medical i-pad theft or tablet theft. The Thunder Tag is a reusable, anti-theft device that is attached to a mobile medical device. If tampered with, the tag emits a loud, piercing alarm. If it is carried within the range of an electronic article surveillance (EAS) antenna located near a doorway or entrance, the antenna alarm activates and staff is warned that someone is attempting to walk out with a device. The 3 Alarm version of the tag also has a built in alarm that will sound if the protected device is carried past the EAS antenna.
My thinking on the subject is this; theft from hospital patients is a very real issue. While it may not be commonplace, there are numerous documented incidents of theft from patients and some of these have included tablet and i-pad theft. Here are some examples:
In a Sept. 12, 2014 story, according to dailybruin.com, a medical student allegedly stole an i-pad from a dying woman.
I
n a Globalnews.ca, 17 April 2013 article, a new mother had her wallets and i-pad stolen from her hospital room in a Canadian hospital.
According to App.com in a 26 December 2015 article, an AristaCare at Whiting assisted-living facility nursing assistant was accused of stealing i-pads as well as other personal belongings from patients.
Pix 11.com reported on July 24, 2015, that from January to May a serial thief was sneaking into rooms and stealing valuables. On 1 May 2015 the subject stole a tablet from an elderly man’s room.
Suppose a medical center is taking steps to protect themselves from tablet theft and i-pad theft by using Alpha Thunder Tags. The hospital would already have the EAS antennas in place to detect devices being removed from the facility. Now consider as a part of the check in process for patients, the offering of Alpha Thunder Tags for patient laptops and i-pads. If accepted, facility staff could apply a tag to the patient’s device and upon checkout; staff could remove the tag with their controlled removal tool. If a thief attempted to steal a patient’s i-pad or tablet, the same system protecting hospital equipment would also protect patients.
From a public relations standpoint, offering anti-theft protection to patients for personal devices could be a significant boost to customer trust and satisfaction. For liability purposes, offering such devices could reduce hospital responsibility if a loss took place and a patient had refused the option of a Thunder Tag. I am not a legal expert, but it would seem to me that if the situation were to arise and a healthcare facility could show that the same protection they use for their equipment was offered to a patient and it was refused, responsibility would then seem to have to be borne by the victim.
There should be no question that protecting hospital i-pads and tablets from theft has to be a requirement, considering the costs associated with lost patient data. With a system already in place, why not offer the same protections of Alpha Thunder Tags to patients and earn the trust of your clientele?
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
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Protect Popular Mobile Medical Devices With Alpha Thunder Tags
Why are mobile medical devices so popular? Why does there seem to be such a proliferation of them in the medical profession? What kind of devices are being used for medical purposes and are there any risks associated with their use? Let me address the last question first. Mobile medical devices that I am referring to are tablets, i-pads, i-phones, etc. These devices are small, portable and easy for medical staff to carry with them while seeing patients. A far cry from the days of clipboards and file folders with patient information, these devices provide access to the same information but with the added benefit of being easier to navigate through information. Since the devices do carry patient data there is risk associated with them, but tablet theft and i-pad theft risk can be minimized with the use of Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags are anti-theft devices attached directly to the item(s) that needs to be protected. They work with an electronic article surveillance system antenna that emits a loud alarm if someone tries to leave a building with a device. Flashing LED lights of an antenna also alert staff of a security breach. If someone attempts an i-pad theft by removing the anti-theft device, the tag has an internal tamper alarm that activates and alerts personnel of an incident as it happens.
Why the proliferation of mobile medical devices? There a couple of reasons for it, the first being a push by the federal government for medical providers to move to electronic medical records (EMR). The idea being, that digitalizing data and patient information would drive down health care costs. Medical providers are attempting to meet government requirements and therefore the use of mobile devices has increased. While there are medical professionals who are both pro and con on the program, the fact is there are more devices being used and any time there is an increase in something of value, there is always someone out there who would like to steal it. The reason may be simply to get hands on something of value and try to resell it or more concerning, steal it and try to hack information contained on it. In either situation a tablet theft or i-pad theft can be an expensive loss to a medical provider.
Another reason for the proliferation of the devices is that medical providers are finding there are many benefits to using mobile medical i-pads, i-phones and tablets. Patient information is easy to access. Doctors can consult with other physicians on patient diagnosis, medical history can show medications a patient may be on and help a doctor avoid prescribing a medication that may negatively interfere with a drug the patient is already taking. There are also a growing number of medical apps that are available to medical professionals. Some of the top apps available for medical i-phones according to the web site “Healthcare IT News” include:
1. Epocrates – The user can view continually updated clinical data
2. Skyscape Medical Resources – a collection of medical information and decision
3. Eyechart – used to measure visual acuity.
4. Taber’s Medical Dictionary – contains over 60,000 terms, 1,000 photos and 600 patient care statements
5. MedCalc – a medical calculator that provides access to medical formulas and scores.
The list of available apps for doctors and nurses goes on, from Neurology toolkits to Veterinarian tools. With so much information and information sharing available at the touch of a screen, it makes sense why transitioning to a mobile technology would be beneficial to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers. It is also understandable how a tablet theft could have negative impacts on a practice if medical data is on a device. The loss of access to these apps could also cause problems if a medical practitioner has come to rely on them for their day to day patient care.
Medical mobile devices have immeasurable value in the health care industry. The opportunities for reducing errors and improving care with new apps are boundless. But, we must not lose sight of the risks associated with mobile devices. They are small and can be easily misplaced or stolen and in the process, patient data may be at risk. Using Alpha Thunder tags is the sensible solution to prevent i-pad theft and tablet theft.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Why are mobile medical devices so popular? Why does there seem to be such a proliferation of them in the medical profession? What kind of devices are being used for medical purposes and are there any risks associated with their use? Let me address the last question first. Mobile medical devices that I am referring to are tablets, i-pads, i-phones, etc. These devices are small, portable and easy for medical staff to carry with them while seeing patients. A far cry from the days of clipboards and file folders with patient information, these devices provide access to the same information but with the added benefit of being easier to navigate through information. Since the devices do carry patient data there is risk associated with them, but tablet theft and i-pad theft risk can be minimized with the use of Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags are anti-theft devices attached directly to the item(s) that needs to be protected. They work with an electronic article surveillance system antenna that emits a loud alarm if someone tries to leave a building with a device. Flashing LED lights of an antenna also alert staff of a security breach. If someone attempts an i-pad theft by removing the anti-theft device, the tag has an internal tamper alarm that activates and alerts personnel of an incident as it happens.
Why the proliferation of mobile medical devices? There a couple of reasons for it, the first being a push by the federal government for medical providers to move to electronic medical records (EMR). The idea being, that digitalizing data and patient information would drive down health care costs. Medical providers are attempting to meet government requirements and therefore the use of mobile devices has increased. While there are medical professionals who are both pro and con on the program, the fact is there are more devices being used and any time there is an increase in something of value, there is always someone out there who would like to steal it. The reason may be simply to get hands on something of value and try to resell it or more concerning, steal it and try to hack information contained on it. In either situation a tablet theft or i-pad theft can be an expensive loss to a medical provider.
Another reason for the proliferation of the devices is that medical providers are finding there are many benefits to using mobile medical i-pads, i-phones and tablets. Patient information is easy to access. Doctors can consult with other physicians on patient diagnosis, medical history can show medications a patient may be on and help a doctor avoid prescribing a medication that may negatively interfere with a drug the patient is already taking. There are also a growing number of medical apps that are available to medical professionals. Some of the top apps available for medical i-phones according to the web site “Healthcare IT News” include:
1. Epocrates – The user can view continually updated clinical data
2. Skyscape Medical Resources – a collection of medical information and decision
3. Eyechart – used to measure visual acuity
4. Taber’s Medical Dictionary – contains over 60,000 terms, 1,000 photos and 600 patient care statements
5. MedCalc – a medical calculator that provides access to medical formulas and scores.
The list of available apps for doctors and nurses goes on, from Neurology toolkits to Veterinarian tools. With so much information and information sharing available at the touch of a screen, it makes sense why transitioning to a mobile technology would be beneficial to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers. It is also understandable how a tablet theft could have negative impacts on a practice if medical data is on a device. The loss of access to these apps could also cause problems if a medical practitioner has come to rely on them for their day to day patient care.
Medical mobile devices have immeasurable value in the health care industry. The opportunities for reducing errors and improving care with new apps are boundless. But, we must not lose sight of the risks associated with mobile devices. They are small and can be easily misplaced or stolen and in the process, patient data may be at risk. Using Alpha Thunder tags is the sensible solution to prevent i-pad theft and tablet theft.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I have spent way too much time in our local hospital. First my grandma, then my husband, and now my grandma is back in. I walk in the front door and know exactly where to go and what to do. I feel like I know everyone’s routine. The nurses and assistants come around on their schedules and depending on what cart they are pushing, I can usually guess what they came in the room for. Those carts are the focus for today though, and thankfully not my feeling sorry for myself. All of them have some sort of laptop or tablet because they have to verify medications they dispense, record vital signs and more. These types of electronics are more common than ever in the medical field now. Because of their expense and the information stored, laptop and tablet theft is a real threat.
There are many laws governing the use and availability of medical information. Privacy laws are very extensive and when there is a violation there is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy to wade through. here is a lot of reporting involved and likely fines to be assessed. In the medical field, the patient’s records security is paramount. If the electronics that are used to store this information are stolen, it can become a public relations nightmare. Birthdays, addresses, social security numbers and more could be compromised. A successful tablet theft could be priceless information for an identity thief. If they can figure out how to get into the system and bypass the passwords, they would have a goldmine of details on all the patients.
Additionally, a laptop or tablet theft could occur simply for the purpose of resale. They may have no interest in getting the information stored on the device; they could just want to run it over to the local pawn shop and get some quick cash. And some people just steal for the sake of getting away with something. Either way, in the medical field, there is a constant focus on saving money and streamlining expenses. Having to explain to the hospital administrator how you lost one of their laptops or tablets would not be a good day.
Now let’s look at what can be done to stop this from happening. First, take a look at the Checkpoint N10 System. This is a compact version of what you see in many retail establishments. The pedestals don’t stand in the middle of the floor; they can be attached to the side of the door. And they still have the same detection capability as their larger counterparts. Checkpoint N10 allows you to keep the professional atmosphere in place, while still deterring theft. The device that works best with this type of theft protection is the Alpha Thunder Tag. This is a tag that attaches directly to the laptop or tablet. The Alpha Thunder Tag works with the Checkpoint N10 by causing the alarm to activate if someone takes one of the devices too close to the detection system. So, if there is an attempted theft of one of your electronics, your staff will immediately be alerted by the Alpha Thunder Tag. In the medical field, you have to always be on your toes and be ready for anything to happen. The theft of your devices won’t be one of those worries if you have a Checkpoint N10 System and the Alpha Thunder Tag on your team.
For more information on how to protect electronics in the medial field, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
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Imposters Steal Medical Devices – Eliminate The Threat With Alpha Thunder Tags
In April 2015, Phoenix police arrested a man for stealing more than $150,000 in medical equipment from Valley hospitals according to an azcentral.com article dated April 24, 2015 by Jerod Macdonald-Evoy. The subject would dress in scrubs and pretend to be a doctor then steal IV pumps and resell them online. In 2015 a woman was arrested by Roanoke Rapids Police on fraud charges; however she had a criminal record dating back to 2010 which investigated her for the theft of ultrasound transducers and an ultrasound machine from two different hospitals. In at least one of the cases she was wearing hospital scrubs and carrying two black bags. She claimed to be there to repair equipment. The value of the transducers was $26,000 each and the value of the portable ultrasound machine stolen from the second facility was $90,000. According to a CBSNewYork report on June 2, 2015, a man put on scrubs and stole a master key and an ID then entered several offices and stole money and an Amazon Kindle e-reader from a St. Frances Hospital. In each of these instances, unauthorized persons used medical scrubs to gain access to equipment and offices that they had no business being able to get to. The point I want to make is, in each instance the perpetrator was wearing scrubs and appeared to belong in the building. In these cases expensive medical equipment was stolen or personal belongings were taken. If these items were stolen, it is easy to see how vulnerable the facilities would be for a medical i-pad theft or a tablet theft to have taken place. In fact, if you noticed, a Kindle e-reader was stolen, and this is no larger than an i-pad or tablet. While the theft of the medical equipment caused significant monetary losses, consider what the cost of a stolen mobile medical device would be. Aside from the cost of the tablet or i-pad, there is the stolen patient information that is more valuable than any of the equipment listed above. Preventing medical i-pad theft and tablet theft from criminals is possible with the use of Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work with electronic article surveillance systems, activating alarm antennas and sounding an internal built in alarm when they are brought into close proximity to the antenna. The tags are attached directly to the devices so the devices remain portable for medical staff to carry with them during their shifts. Should someone forget they have a device in their possession as they leave, the EAS system and the Thunder Tag will alarm giving the employee a reminder they have to return the device to its designated location. If a criminal attempts to pick up a device and steal it, they would be forced to try to remove the tag. Attempts to remove the tag will result in a tamper alarm sounding and staff would be alerted to the attempt to steal a mobile device.
As I mentioned, the Alpha Thunder works in conjunction with EAS systems such as the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are available in different sizes and styles, but for office areas or buildings where patients may be wheeled around in wheelchairs or gurneys, the Classic N10 antenna is a perfect solution. This particular antenna does not take up much space, but it provides the frequency range necessary to detect if a tagged item were being removed from a building. Because it is a slim design, ample room in doorways remains for medical carts, gurneys, wheelchairs, etc. to be wheeled in without concern of space constriction.
Medical tablet theft and i-pad theft are very real risks for medical facilities, including doctor offices, medical schools, and any location that deals with patient information. Alpha Thunder Tags and Classic N10 antennas are one step you can take towards ensuring the security of mobile technology and patient data.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
In April 2015, Phoenix police arrested a man for stealing more than $150,000 in medical equipment from Valley hospitals according to an azcentral.com article dated April 24, 2015 by Jerod Macdonald-Evoy. The subject would dress in scrubs and pretend to be a doctor then steal IV pumps and resell them online. In 2015 a woman was arrested by Roanoke Rapids Police on fraud charges; however she had a criminal record dating back to 2010 which investigated her for the theft of ultrasound transducers and an ultrasound machine from two different hospitals. In at least one of the cases she was wearing hospital scrubs and carrying two black bags. She claimed to be there to repair equipment. The value of the transducers was $26,000 each and the value of the portable ultrasound machine stolen from the second facility was $90,000. According to a CBSNewYork report on June 2, 2015, a man put on scrubs and stole a master key and an ID then entered several offices and stole money and an Amazon Kindle e-reader from a St. Frances Hospital. In each of these instances, unauthorized persons used medical scrubs to gain access to equipment and offices that they had no business being able to get to. The point I want to make is, in each instance the perpetrator was wearing scrubs and appeared to belong in the building. In these cases expensive medical equipment was stolen or personal belongings were taken. If these items were stolen, it is easy to see how vulnerable the facilities would be for a medical i-pad theft or a tablet theft to have taken place. In fact, if you noticed, a Kindle e-reader was stolen, and this is no larger than an i-pad or tablet. While the theft of the medical equipment caused significant monetary losses, consider what the cost of a stolen mobile medical device would be. Aside from the cost of the tablet or i-pad, there is the stolen patient information that is more valuable than any of the equipment listed above. Preventing medical i-pad theft and tablet theft from criminals is possible with the use of Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work with electronic article surveillance systems, activating alarm antennas and sounding an internal built in alarm when they are brought into close proximity to the antenna. The tags are attached directly to the devices so the devices remain portable for medical staff to carry with them during their shifts. Should someone forget they have a device in their possession as they leave, the EAS system and the Alpha Thunder Tag will alarm giving the employee a reminder they have to return the device to its designated location. If a criminal attempts to pick up a device and steal it, they would be forced to try to remove the tag. Attempts to remove the tag will result in a tamper alarm sounding and staff would be alerted to the attempt to steal a mobile device.
As I mentioned, the Alpha Thunder works in conjunction with EAS systems such as the Checkpoint Classic N10 antenna. EAS antennas are available in different sizes and styles, but for office areas or buildings where patients may be wheeled around in wheelchairs or gurneys, the Classic N10 antenna is a perfect solution. This particular antenna does not take up much space, but it provides the frequency range necessary to detect if a tagged item were being removed from a building. Because it is a slim design, ample room in doorways remains for medical carts, gurneys, wheelchairs, etc. to be wheeled in without concern of space constriction.
Medical tablet theft and i-pad theft are very real risks for medical facilities, including doctor offices, medical schools, and any location that deals with patient information. Alpha Thunder Tags and Classic N10 antennas are one step you can take towards ensuring the security of mobile technology and patient data.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
