Category Archives: Medical Alert Systems

How to Choose The Right Medical Alert System Provider

The Right Provider Company Is Just As Important As The Right System 

Independent living seniors, family member caregivers and health care professionals alike, are all basically familiar with emergency medical alert systems and the medical alert necklace that summons emergency assistance when a sudden or unexpected accident or medical event occurs. Finding the right system that offers the best in affordability, product technology and monitoring services for you or a loved one can be a confusing and sometimes overwhelming process.  Yet, choosing the right system provider is just as critical as finding the right system technology and devices.  Put differently, the best system in place is only as good as the provider company that supports it….the following key points is what you need to consider.

System Equipment Selection

The provider company should offer consumers a complete selection and varietal range of systems to suit the specific needs of any standard user (i.e. independent senior, medical ailment, disabled, at-risk employee, etc.).  For older adult users, land line and cell dialer systems for in and around the home are reliable and effective.  For individuals who require portability and mobile protection outside the home, GPS and cellular network mobile care systems are most suitable.  Accessories that augment a system such as wearable buttons, hallway buttons, lock boxes, and home safety lighting products are also highly recommended.

Purchase and Rental Price Plan Options

Rental plans for these systems is the most advisable and affordable payment method.  Purchase of a particular systems might be an advisable option if the user intends to employ the system for an extended period of time- say five to seven years or more.  Rental price plans should include a Monthly, Quarterly and Annual payment plan option.  The more you pay for an installment (i.e. Quarterly or Annual), the cheaper the monthly rate should be.  In other words, different monthly rates for different rental price plans.  These rates should combine the equipment and emergency monitoring service fees all into one (monthly) rate commensurate with the rental plan selected.

Hidden Fees and Charges

When possible, try to stay away from provider companies that charge “one-time” service and handling fees such as an Activation Fee, Programming Fee, Cancellation or Termination Fee and the like.  These “one-time” individual charges can range from $50.00 to $250.00.  To note, an Activation Fee (under $100.00) can be necessary for providers when offering more advanced technologies and applications like a GPS mobile-based system.

24/7 Emergency Monitoring Service

The emergency monitoring center should provide nationwide coverage and reliable response/dispatch services on a 24-hour, seven-day-per-week basis.  Emergency Center responders should only be live operators, not voice mail or via phone line response are industry certified in emergency medical services (EMS) response and dispatch.  Spanish-speaking operators should also be provided to users, if needed.

Customer Service and Support

The provider company should offer responsive customer service and support to users and their family member caregivers on a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week basis.  Contact with customer service should be easily accessible through a toll-free number, e-mail and a web site link. In the event call volume prohibits a live response over the phone, leave a message and that non-emergency call should be returned within 1 to 2 hours.

Customer Reviews and Satisfaction Performance Rating

With online shopping at record levels, customer reviews are being sought by potential buyers as independent, non-biased “truth barometers” on a company’s products and services.  Take the time to visit the company provider web site and other independent, reputable sources for reviews on particular companies and their ratings for customer satisfaction and performance.

Company Profile and History

Choose a company that is a nationwide provider of medical alarm systems and emergency monitoring services.  Local providers usually do not have the infrastructure, monitoring capability and financial viability to professionally service these industry clients.

Other criteria include a reputable, quality-based provider company that has a successful business history of at least 5 to 7 years in the medical alarm industry, a Better Business Bureau rating of “A-” or better in the state the company is headquartered, and one that specializes in emergency medical alarm (i.e. does not bundle this specialized service with residential home security and the like) and related services. A content-rich, informative and easy to navigate web site is also a tell-tale sign that the provider company is a highly professional and dedicated member of the medical alarm industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Simple Tests You Can Do To Ensure Your System Works

senior help button

First Response System clients always make the comment to us, in a humorous way, that they hope to never have the occasion or need to “press” the senior help button at the onset of a medical emergency or life threatening event.  Yet, they tell us, it is always comforting to know that the First Response medical alert system is there to be activated, if and when it is ever needed for such an emergency.  We call this feeling of security as providing “peace-of-mind” to our elderly clients and their family member caregivers.  But it is important for the user to become familiar with their panic or help button when testing the system themselves.

Schedule These 2 quick and Easy Tests Every Month – It Can Save Your Life

Now that an elderly client has a land line or cell dialer system in place at their home, it is highly recommended by First Response that our client (or family member) perform 2 quick and easy tests.  These tests should be scheduled on a regular basis for each month.  To note, one of the incredible features and advantages of using such a system is that it is virtually maintenance-free for the elderly user.  As such, we emphasize these tests are simple and fast to perform by anyone with limited technical knowledge or capability.  The senior help button worn by the user is key to perform these simple tests.

The Button Test

You should conduct the Button Test once every 2 weeks.

Step #1:  Press and release the help or panic button (worn either as a necklace/pendant or as a bracelet) and wait for the 2-way speaker (which is located on the monitoring base station console) to emit the recorded message “Emergency.”  Wait for the base console speaker to emit the word “Emergency”  three times in succession.

Step #2:  After the third message prompt of “Emergency,” press and release the Clear button located on the right side of the base station console.   By pressing the “clear” button you will cancel the “Emergency” alarm signal from traveling through the phone line to our national emergency monitoring center.  That’s it….if successful, you have confirmed the button device is transmitting a wireless signal to the base console.

The Live System Test You should conduct the Live System test once per month.

Step #1:  Press and release your help or panic alert button and wait for the monitoring base station console to emit the recorded message “Emergency” six times.  On the seventh message prompt, the speaker will emit the message “Emergency Reported.”  This prompt will let you know the alarm signal is now traveling through your land line phone to our national emergency monitoring center.

Step #2:  Now wait approximately 15 to 25 seconds and you will be connected to a First Response live EMS/EMT Operator.  This operator will inquire (over the 2-way speaker) if this alarm call is a medical emergency needing medical assistance.  You will answer: “No, I am testing the system at this time.”  After this brief exchange, our live First Response System operator will then bid the user goodbye and disconnect the call.  No need for the user to touch the system after this.  That’s it…if successful, you have now confirmed your system is fully operational and connected to our emergency monitoring center.

More Info and Helpful Tutorial Videos Please browse our web site for more detailed information regarding our emergency systems, wearable alarm devices, monitoring services and to view some helpful tutorial videos on this specific subject,