Security system protects newborns
Jennifer Ditlevson Haglund
Korden Johnson wears one of the Hugs security tags issued by SSM Health St. Francis Hospital. Korden was born Thursday morning to parents Amber Buholt and Michael Johnson.
With an upgraded electronic security system called Hugs, nurses at SSM Health St. Francis Hospital can offer greater protection against infant abduction.
Kathy Brand, obstetrics unit manager, said the previous system had been in place for close to 10 years. According to Brand, other than being outdated, the system created safety problems.
“It used to depend on the weather,” Brand said.
The alarm was inconsistent and would sound anywhere from five to 20 feet from the door. With Hugs, Brand said, there are fewer false alarms.
Too many false alarms became dangerous because those responding to the noise quit addressing the problem originally intended by the signal. Instead, they were scrambling to stop the high-pitched sound that was bothering patients.
“It was a real safety issue,” Brand said. “That’s another reason we upgraded. It’s much, much better now.”
Hospital staff members attach the unique ID tags and bracelets to infants’ ankles and wrists once they are born. Parents wear bracelets with matching numbers. The numbers are also included on documents with the babies’ footprints and mothers’ fingerprints as another safety measure.
No one can remove a tag without the alarm sounding. If anyone without a tag were to take an infant away from designated areas, the obstetrics department locks down until the baby is located.
“Hugs allows us to provide one of the highest levels of security possible,” Brand said. “However, as a second level of security, all OB staff wear a predetermined color of scrub uniform and have a special St. Francis photo ID badge.”
So far, the hospital has never had to deal with infant abduction, but Brand said the security upgrade is meant to keep it that way. She added that the hospital is always looking for ways to improve the system and conducts annual safety training.
In addition to implementing the Hugs system to increase levels of safety and security, the obstetrics unit allows only parents and other designated persons to take infants from their rooms. Also, infants can only be removed from rooms if they are lying in the hospital bassinet.
Brand said leaving newborns in bassinets affords safety for both mothers and their babies. Blood loss often makes new mothers dizzy, which could create a hazard to both parent and child if the mother falls.
