Sterling Regional protects newborns with electronic device to prevent abductions

STERLING, Colo., Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new mother at Sterling Regional Medical Center can have peace of mind knowing her newborn is protected thanks to the HUGS System that's been in place at the hospital since 2008.

This is the same system that prevented a kidnapping last week at a California hospital, when a woman disguised as a nurse allegedly tried to kidnap a newborn baby girl from her mother's hospital room.  Luckily, the baby was wearing a monitoring bracelet attached around her ankle which set off alarms and forced the doors of the maternity unit to close. Sterling Regional Medical Center's Family Birthing Center has been utilizing this same system for four years now. There have been no cases of attempted child abductions at the hospital, but the HUGS System is always in place to protect our most vulnerable patients. 

The HUGS System consists of a monitoring device and bracelet worn by patients 8 years of age and younger. The bracelet includes a tag worn against the skin. When the tag gets too close to barriers on the unit or is removed from someone other than hospital staff, a signal is sent to the receiver which causes an alarm to go off, forcing the doors on the unit to close and lock.

For the most part, newborn babies stay with the mother in the patient room unless the child is born premature or is sick; in that case, the child may be placed in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Along with the HUGS System, in case of an infant abduction, Sterling Regional Medical Center would also activate a Code Pink which would alert all staff. Those working on the unit would closely monitor all doors and question anyone leaving the unit.

If you're interested in doing a story about Sterling Regional Medical Center's HUGS System, please contact David Lozano, public relations specialist at (480) 854-5220 or (480) 694-8757 and we can arrange an interview.

ABOUT STERLING REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Sterling Regional Medical Center has provided outstanding medical care to residents of northeastern Colorado and the surrounding area since 1938. 

We are a 25-bed acute-care hospital with state-of-the-art technology, a full range of health care services, and a staff dedicated to providing our patients with excellent care. 

We are also home to the David Walsh Cancer Center, which offers an unprecedented level of cancer care to northeastern Colorado residents.

Our hospital offers cutting-edge technology such as eICU, a remote monitoring system and an intelligent OB program, a computerized system designed to reduce the chance of complications during labor. 

Our medical imaging department includes a new 1.5 Magnet MRI, digital mammography and a 16-slice CT scan

SOURCE Sterling Regional Medical Center