Security within any medical facility is always a top priority, but nowhere is it more important than in a hospital’s birthing center where thousands of newborn babies are delivered and cared for each year.

It is within these centers that there has been a reported increase in attempts to kidnap and walk away with infants. That is why Alegent Health’s Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, Neb., installed the Hugs infant protection system into its new Best Beginnings Maternity   Center.

“Infant and patient security are paramount to providing a restful and healing medical environment,” said Renee Huon, operations director of maternity at Bergan Mercy Medical Center. “We are very satisfied with the results of the Hugs system and with the way it blends with our regular hospital administrative procedures and processes. It’s a real time-saver and helps the staff feel more confident that our maternity patients are protected from harm.”

The Best Beginnings Maternity Center opened in January 2010 with 16 labor and delivery rooms and four C-section rooms located on the second floor of the facility expansion.

It also offers 36 postpartum rooms on the third floor and a planned neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with 36 private beds scheduled to open in September of 2010. The current Level III NICU will handle existing patient needs.

Hundreds of hospitals worldwide are using the Hugs system to help protect infants from the threat of abduction. The Hugs solution consists of an easily attachable infant tag with automatic software enrollment. Once attached to the baby, the tag will automatically prevent any unauthorized person from moving a baby off the floor. If someone tries to move a baby without proper authorization, alarms sound, doors and elevators lock down, and alerts are sent to all staff members in the maternity department.

Control Services Inc. of Omaha, Neb., worked with hospital officials and Stanley Healthcare Solutions to integrate the Hugs system into the hospital’s internal security and IP network. The hospital wanted a seamless installation that provides ease of use and allows future expansion.

“The Hugs system has built its reputation on combining the most comprehensive security with features and software that make it easy to align with hospitals’ clinical workflow,” says Kevin Smith, product manager for patient security with Hugs supplier Stanley Healthcare Solutions. “We’re very proud that nurses and other users have really come to think of the system as their own.”

Phil Fenton is the security manager with Control Services Inc., an Omaha, Neb.-based facility automation contractor.

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