Inovonics, HSS and Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital Team-up to Boost Staff Protection With Enterprise Mobile Duress System

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Nov. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Inovonics (http://www.inovonics.com), a leading provider of enterprise life-safety and specialized commercial wireless systems, has partnered with Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital (ESJH) in Denver (http://exemplasaintjoseph.org/) and HSS Inc. (http://hss-us.com/) to deploy an Enterprise Mobile Duress (EMD) system that provides associates an additional tool to request assistance in the event of a workplace violence incident. The mobile duress system is deployed in the Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital Emergency Department (ED), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Behavioral Health where nurses, physicians, security and other support staff are routinely confronted with violent, combative patients. The system provides 24-hour departmental coverage with mobile panic buttons that transmit alerts to security and other authorized personnel who can locate, respond and intervene with duress situations using Inovonics' Radius EMD system.

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"Hospitals around the globe struggle with the issue of workplace violence," said Eric Smith, HSS Security Director for Exempla Healthcare at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital. "The safety of all hospital personnel, as well as patients, is a top priority. Saint Joseph's partnership with Inovonics and HSS is a tremendous example of how different groups in the industry can work together to create safer workplaces that our hospital associates need and deserve."

An EMD system is easily integrated into an existing security network and can extend coverage into stairwells, walking paths, walking tunnels and even parking lots and parking structures. Unlike a fixed panic-button system, a wireless panic-button offered with  enterprise mobile duress brings location capabilities not only reliably within the confines of the hospital walls but also to those extended areas.

"The EMD system installation at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital is especially beneficial for nurses and staff," said Bryan Jones, director of Systems Integration at HSS. "HSS and Inovonics' combined efforts have implemented a cutting-edge technology at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital that will empower staff and authorized security personnel to easily and effectively respond to duress situations. This not only enhances protection, but creates a safer environment for all patients and visitors."

A Mobile Medical Staff Needs Immediate Help When and Where It's Needed

The EMD system for Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital includes a Radius server/software package, twelve high powered repeaters that form the network of coverage and 45 mobile panic buttons that are deployed to hospital staff throughout the ER, ICU and Behavioral Health departments. The system can easily be expanded to cover the entire 854,134 square feet of the hospital, which includes 565 licensed beds, 30 operating rooms and 32 ER beds. Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital sees more than 50,000 visitors each year in its Emergency Department alone. The hospital also consistently reports the highest number of critical care days among the private hospitals in the metro Denver area. Medical personnel must be able to move around the hospital's floors freely making the Radius EMD system a critical addition to the facility's overall commitment to workplace safety. Associates and medical staff alike can wear a Radius panic button around their neck or on a belt, or place it in a pocket or purse. Upon activation, the panic buttons transmit a unique, short and rapid high-priority alert message to the hospital's dispatch station where the event is assessed and the proper response is deployed.

How an Enterprise Mobile Duress System Works

Inovonics' Radius EMD system monitors wireless alerting panic-buttons (pendants), provides notification when help is needed and directs responders to the location of the event – making it ideal for large-scale staff protection in hospitals, Emergency Departments and behavioral wards. Associates have added protection as security teams can respond quickly to assistance needs as they occur.

"Radius provides all the key components of an EMD system," said Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics. "Selecting the right technology is just one step in combating workplace violence. Our partnership with HSS and Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital, two community leading organizations, is an opportunity to work alongside their security and executive team to ensure that best practices are followed. A combination of our technology and a holistic approach to security will ensure that Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital is providing the foremost in people protection."

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Inovonics Wireless Corporation
Based in Louisville, Colo., Inovonics is a leading provider of enterprise life-safety and specialized commercial wireless systems. Founded in 1986 and a division of Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP), the company pioneered the use of 900 MHz frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless technology to deliver the most reliable and cost-effective solutions for critical commercial wireless needs. Healthcare, K-12 education, business and government organizations turn to Inovonics as a partner dedicated to perfecting wireless coverage and wireless infrastructure reliability within a range of settings and environments. In addition, Inovonics developed the Enterprise Mobile Duress (EMD) framework to help advance the common industry goal of protecting people from violence and helping organizations take a practical and strategic approach to improving personal safety in the workplace. For more information about Inovonics or to learn about EMD, please visit: (www.inovonics.com or www.enterprisemobileduress.com), or call 800-782-2709.

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SOURCE Inovonics