RTLS Implemented To Improve Safety, Reduce Emergency Response Time
By Wendy Grafius, contributing writer
RFID-over-Wi-Fi system selected by California Department of State Hospitals at three facilities, two more planned in the near future
California’s Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has selected Ekahau’s Real-Time Location Systems safety solution for five of its mental health facilities. The implementation is expected to reduce emergency response times and improve safety for employees, visitors, and hospital vendors.
In December 2011, the California Department of Mental Health announced an organization-wide initiative to increase the safety, treatment, and responsibility within its hospitals. “We listened to employees, management, mental health advocates, and experts to get their recommendations,” said Kathy Gaither, chief deputy director of DSH. “We remain committed to providing appropriate treatment for patients in a safe environment and in a fiscally responsible manner.”
Ekahau’s RFID-over-Wi-Fi badges on lanyards will be worn by employees and visitors throughout the facilities. In the event of an emergency, the badge wearer needs only pull down on their badge to alert DSH campus police. The Ekahau Vision software platform provides location, condition, and status through security monitors and system-interfaced floor plans and also allows administrators to issue mass communications to badge-holders. DSH officials can review and analyze emergency response with the solution’s Forensics Replay feature. “Adopting the Ekahau safety solution state-wide will go far to keep California’s caregivers safe and give them peace of mind that they deserve,” said Jamie Mangrum, CIO of California’s Department of State Hospitals.
First rolled out at Napa State Hospital, the Ekahau platform was installed by partners AT&T and NetXperts, leveraging Napa’s Cisco Wireless LAN. The new enhanced alarm systems will be installed in the near future at Metropolitan State Hospital, Patton State Hospital, Coalinga State Hospital, and DSH – Atascadero. “We are pleased that the state of California has recognized the value of Ekahau’s safety alerting solution,” said Mark Norris, president and CEO of Ekahau. “Our success was the direct result of a close, two-year collaboration with the Department of State Hospitals, AT&T, and NetXperts.”
Accredited by the Joint Commission, the Napa facility is a low to moderate security facility with a bed capacity for treating up to 1,362 patients who suffer from schizophrenic, mood, anxiety, or personality disorders, among other diagnoses. Offered therapies include pharmacological, patient/group psychotherapy, independent living skills development, education/vocation training, supportive/cognitive skills nurturing, and more.
DSH – Metropolitan LA treats an average of 670 patients at any one time, promoting maximum recovery from psychiatric illness, and is a major Southern California teaching hospital with affiliations with the School of Medicine at the University of California - Irvine and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Additional DSH facilities to be upgraded with the Ekahau safety solution include 1,287-bed Patton which treats patients committed by the judicial system, 1,500-full capacity Coalinga for sexually violent predators, and 1,275-bed Atascadero for mentally-disabled males who pose a threat to themselves or others.
SOURCE: PR Newswire