News | November 16, 2009

Athens Hospital Keeps Infants Safe With TotGuard Active RFID System

Care comes first for Georgia Hospital in selecting Convergint/GuardRFID active RFID tags to protect newborns and infants. The TotGuard™ system was chosen for its baby-friendly active tag attachment and reliable IP based RFID technology.

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) -- Convergint Technologies and Guard RFID Solutions Inc. jointly announced today that its TotGuard Infant Protection solution is now well past its first anniversary, protecting infants in the state-of-the-art Women's Service Centre at the Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, Georgia, USA.

"When Athens Regional Medical Centre wanted to migrate to a new active RFID Infant Security solution in 2008, the choice was obvious," says Ken LaChance, Convergint's Vice President of Business Development, "GuardRFID's TotGuard™ is a state-of-the-art solution that is a true IP-based infant tracking system, using existing Ethernet networks, so the system can be accessed across the whole facility as well as remotely for monitoring and maintenance services. This was our first installation using the TotGuard™ solution, so we conducted a thorough site analysis before we proposed the system. As an Integrator we are well satisfied with our choice to install TotGuard™ because it was easy to install, it has performed very well and we have a very satisfied customer as a result."

Sherry Schacke, Director of the Mother Baby Unit at Athens responded, "As a leading provider of post partum care, we use not only the most comfortable infant security for our Moms and Tots, but also the most active rfid system." Schacke explained that Athens Regional's Women's Center strives to provide family centered care in its Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby Unit, so the unobtrusive, supple wrap tag was a good fit for their "care comes first" philosophy. "At Athens Regional Medical Center, we know we have done our best to keep our most vulnerable patient group – infants - safe and sound. Convergint Technologies and GuardRFID have been truly exceptional in the delivery of the TotGuard™ system and in providing us with post-implementation support". Schacke concluded by saying that the TotGuard active RFID system has been in place for over a year, and has performed extremely well.

GuardRFID Vice President of Sales, Beth Bandi explained that the three parties worked closely to provide a complete solution for Athens Regional Medical Center's requirements. "GuardRFID's active RFID infant tag system was selected for its soft, baby friendly wrap attachment, with its unique dual-tamper detection technology. The dual tamper mechanism significantly reduces nuisance alarms." GuardRFID's TotGuard Infant Security system uses the only Disposable Infant Tags on the market, eliminating the need to clean, disinfect and sterilize tags after use, and removing the risk of cross-infection between infants. These small, infant tags utilize GuardRFID's unique dual-tamper detecting mechanism, which are designed to significantly reduce nuisance alarms. GuardRFID offers the widest variety of tag types for Infant Security applications, including the first ever Tamper Sensing Umbilical Tag, as well as the smallest and lightest Umbilical Tag available in the market that can be used with almost any standard Umbilical Clamp.

About Convergint Technologies

Convergint Technologies, North America's fastest growing independent systems integrator, designs, installs and services electronic security, fire alarm and life safety, and building automation systems. Convergint is a $160M North American company with over 750 colleagues in 22 locations serving thousands of customers in the areas of healthcare, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace, financial, and technology sectors. Convergint was founded on a set of ten values and beliefs that drive the company's culture and set the industry standard for customer satisfaction. In 2007, Convergint was named the security industry's "Systems Integrator of the Year" by SDM Magazine and was recognized as the fastest growing company in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business magazine. For more information about Convergint, visit www.convergint.com.

About GuardRFID Solutions

GuardRFID develops Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies and products for Healthcare and Enterprise applications. GuardRFID's products can accurately track and locate assets and people, and are used for enhanced automation, workflow, monitoring and security solutions. GuardRFID's ability to support multiple applications on its platform positions the company to be able to offer combined people and asset solutions all on the same infrastructure. Founded in early 2007, GuardRFID introduced the first low-cost disposable Active RFID tags to the market, eliminating the need to recycle tags, and allowing for mass deployment for a reasonable investment. GuardRFID Solutions is federally incorporated in Canada, with its head office in the Province of British Columbia, and its Sales office in Atlanta, GA. Additional information regarding GuardRFID products and services can be found on its website www.guardrfid.com.

About Athens Regional Medical Center

Athens Regional Medical Center is a 315-bed full service regional referral center and is part of Athens Regional Health Services, an integrated system that provides for the healthcare needs of a 17-county service area in Northeast Georgia.

Athens Regional has recently expanded its Emergency Department and revamped its Radiology Department, Labor and Deliver and Mother - Baby Units. More expansion is underway that will bring the number of licensed beds to 360 and expand its surgical department with four new operating rooms, pre-and post-operative areas, cardiovascular, endoscopy and laboratory services.

Athens Regional features nationally acclaimed, comprehensive cardiac, vascular and thoracic procedures including open heart surgery; cardiac catheterization and vascular labs; a full-spectrum of advanced surgical procedures; minimally invasive surgeries; a neurosurgery unit; a stroke center; a free-standing outpatient radiology center and outpatient surgery center; adult and children's rehabilitation services; diagnostic and therapeutic oncology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and PET/CT Scanner; a neonatal intensive care unit, the Loran Smith Center.

SOURCE: PRWeb

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