McKee Medical Center installs system to keep pediatric patients safe
LOVELAND, Colo. (July 12, 2010) – Security measures in place to protect McKee Medical Center’s most vulnerable patients – our newborn babies – now keeps young patients in the pediatric unit safe as well.
The HUGS security system consists of a monitoring device and bracelets worn by patients 8 and under and older children in special circumstances. The bracelet includes a tag worn against the skin.
When that tag gets too close to barriers on the unit, a signal is sent to the receiver. An alarm sounds and doors to the unit close and lock. The alarm also goes off and doors close when the tag’s contact with the patient’s skin is broken – for instance if someone other than the staff tries to remove the bracelet. The system was activated in the Medical/Pediatrics unit in June.
Often times a newborn that had stayed in the McKee Family Birthing Center will need to be readmitted to the Medical/Pediatric unit for care. It didn’t make sense for that infant to have security measures in place in the nursery, and then go without that security in the Pediatric unit, said Unit Nursing Director Donlyn Smillie, BSN, RN, NHA.
Typically parents remain with their children while they are in the unit. However, a parent may step out of the room or use the restroom and the child could be alone for a short time. “This is just another way to keep children safe,” Smillie said.
Janice Greeno, director of volunteers for McKee Medical Center, said the decision to contribute $70,000 to install the HUGS was an easy choice for the volunteer leadership council. “The council members understood the importance of this and were committed to seeing that it get funded.” The contribution was made in partnership with the McKee Medical Center Foundation.
In addition to using HUGS, nurses photograph each pediatric patient and the patient’s parent or caregiver as an added level of security.
ABOUT MCKEE MEDICAL CENTER
McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colo., is a 132-bed nonprofit, acute-care hospital that offers excellence in health care including cancer care, women's services, orthopedics and surgical care. McKee is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system based in Phoenix, Ariz., with 23 hospitals throughout the West. Banner Health was recently named one of the Top Ten Healthcare Systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters.
