Solutions for Enhanced Staff Safety
Personnel Safety Solutions
Workplace violence against nurses and other frontline caregivers is a growing and global problem. But how can we better protect vulnerable Healthcare workers? And how can we do it while still facilitating essential face-to-face contact?
Physical and verbal abuse against caregivers are so widespread they have been described as "characteristic hazards faced by all members of the nursing profession".1 That’s why a personal alarm system is essential in today’s Healthcare sector.
Ascom Staff Protect solutions enable fast, accurate and coordinated responses to personal safety alerts. Such alarm notifications can even be sent should a member of staff lose consciousness or otherwise be unable to transmit an alert. Ascom Staff Protect—looking after the caregivers.
References
1. Stephen, H. (1998). Yellow card for violent patients, Nursing Standard, 12, 52, Sep., 14
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What can be done to improve staff safety?
The consequences of workplace violence in the Healthcare sector are enormous. Staff have been killed and seriously injured. Security costs strain already tight budgets. Workplaces become even more stressful—which can lead to an increased risk of medication errors.4 Staff turnover increases. Patient care can be compromised.
But lots can be done to minimize risks. An Ascom Staff Protect solution, lets on-the-go workers send different types of alerts to pre-assigned colleagues and/or emergency services. A discreet ‘soft’ alert quietly informs colleagues of a potentially threatening situation. While other alerts can send location data, and may offer a ‘push-to-talk’ function that lets responders listen in to the phone sending the alarm.
Did you know?
Fast Facts
- Workplace violence leads to increased insurance premium costs, decreased productivity, decreased efficiency in the delivery of services, business interruptions, turn-over of employees, increased legal expenses, and negative coping strategies (e.g. increased intake of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes)3
- Caregiver fatigue, injury, and stress are tied to a higher risk of medication errors and patient infections4
Reference case: Psychiatric University Clinics Basel
"Our people now move with less anxiety on the grounds even at night, because they know that we can determine their position in an emergency situation quickly and exactly and can immediately provide help."
Toni Huwyler
Building and Safety Manager, PUC Basel
- Workplace violence leads to increased insurance premium costs, decreased productivity, decreased efficiency in the delivery of services, business interruptions, turn-over of employees, increased legal expenses, and negative coping strategies (e.g. increased intake of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes)3
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Solution Architecture
Put simply, an Ascom Staff Protect solution consists of three main elements: handsets, wireless infrastructure, Ascom Unite software. Typically, a staff member presses an alarm button on a mobile handset (‘man-down’ and ‘no movement’ functions automatically send alerts). Alerts travel via wireless infrastructure, and are then processed by Ascom Unite.
This software routes the alerts according to predefined plans, ensuring the right people receive the alarms in the right order. The location of the alert-issuing device can be plotted using RTLS, base stations, and Ascom location beacons. Positions and other key data can also be graphically shown on PC screens with the Alarm Management Client.
Solution Products
The products shown below are only a part of Ascom’s total hardware and software offering. To see the complete product portfolio, click on ‘Products’ in the main menu. Contact your nearest Ascom office or representative to learn more about specific Ascom solutions, products and services.
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PDFHow Basel's PUC improved safetyDec 01, 2016Psychiatric clinics belong to the most demanding environment in matters of personal protection. Creating an alarm and communication system in such an environment, which completely, autonomously and reliably facilitates alarm transmission with localization of the transmitter, as well as interactive voice and text communication, is really a masterpiece. Learn how Basel's Psychiatric University Clinics (PUC) improved safety.ENGLISH
