Wireless, paperless, anything but careless.

Long gone are the days of manually checking lab and hospital appliances to make sure they have remained within prescribed value limits. With all of the emerging regulations and standards, many labs and hospitals cannot afford not to have a monitoring system implemented. Automated monitoring systems have advanced significantly and are more innovative and cost-effective than ever. Additionally, with the right choice, these systems provide a combination of reliable, flexible, and surprisingly affordable components that will ensure a high level of security for a laboratory, hospital, pharmacy, blood bank, storage area, or even a food-service facility.

Whether you need to measure temperature, humidity, particle count, airflow, or other parameters, having the hardware and software to automatically track and record such data has numerous upsides. Today's wireless monitoring systems create a safe, paperless environment for medical professionals and their patients. When evaluating your laboratory's need for a new monitoring system, here are the five most advantageous aspects to consider:

* Security

First on the list is the security that is provided in both the preservation of sensitive materials and the collection, storage, and access of data. The automation allows data to be recorded accurately in real-time and arranged into custom reports, charts, and graphs--all of which are valuable resources for both regulatory inspections as well as continuous improvement within the laboratory. The incident and adverse-events reporting of today's monitoring system is designed to impact safety goals through automatic, electronic recordkeeping. The advantage of maintaining an online database for this is met with secure access to authorized users. Not only do monitoring systems keep sensitive materials safe, but also securely limit the retrieval of information to users that log on correctly.

* Reliability

Second, the demand for reliability has led to an emergence of automation to offset the inevitable human error that arrives through manually checking parameters. User-defined warning and alarm limits are set for the sensors so that an abnormality in data triggers the system to alert staff via personnel alarms. Moreover, the reliability of sensors is proven by their ability to continually to buffer and collect data during network outages, sending the information to a host computer once the connection is re-established. When compared to having personnel manually conduct measurements, the amount of reliability an automated system gives is priceless.

* Ease of use

Third, just because these systems perform complex procedures does not mean that they cannot be easy to use as well. Userfriendly software allows technicians to get optimal performance out of the hardware. This advantage is amplified in systems that provide Web-based software for technicians to monitor the data, where users can simply log on and navigate through the facility's collected data via a familiar Web browser. Users can trace activity, including the status of all alarms, as well as compile the necessary data into printable reports.

* Flexibility

Fourth, monitoring systems have the ability to adapt to a specific environment. Due to their plug-and-play capability, customizing and expanding the system is easy. The sensors are configured to monitor data as determined by the facility, and for those times an out-of-range measurement is detected, alarm-message relay can be customized as well. The systems have many options available including audible, visual, and messaging alarms. Users can be alerted via e-mail, phone, pager, or text messaging, whichever their preference may be.

* Wireless

And fifth, the best systems have the ability to communicate from wireless sensors, which relay data to a host computer. The system can exist on a facility's local area network or LAN, making everything from installation to daily use much easier. Also, using wireless in combination with wired components further allows a system to run exactly as needed by the facility. It cuts down on the cost and time for both installation and maintenance; and it provides security, reliability, ease of use, and flexibility previously highlighted.

All in all, there are multiple advantages to integrating an automated monitoring system to create a low-risk environment where the loss of sensitive materials would be very damaging. Such systems work as a tool to meet and often exceed quality and safety standards, making them an integral part of today's medical-facility improvements.

Megan Thibault works with CIMTechniques in Beaufort, SC, a certified manufacturer of monitoring systems for critical applications in a wide variety of fields including medical, biomedical, and pharmaceutical.

RELATED ARTICLE: SAFETY

Other safety issues in the laboratory require a large array of products, a small sampling of which is presented here.

Infection prevention to go

Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Cloths are ideal for on-the-go healthcare workers. Available as convenient, individual packets in two different sizes--large and extra large--they are made of a strong diamond-embossed material, latex-free, and formulated with a low-alcohol formula. Wipes use an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant designed for non-porous environmental surfaces found in healthcare settings. Sani-Cloth Plus kills 13 microorganisms including MRSA, TB, hepatitis B and C, HIV, herpes simplex type-2, VRE, influenza, E coli, and Salmonella in five minutes (HIV-1, HBV, and HCV in two minutes), disinfecting and deodorizing with one convenient

Sani-Cloth Plus Germicidal Disposable Cloth Wipes

PDI 

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Collect and dispose safely

The Terminal Biohazard Keeper Floor Model allows labs to collect and dispose of biohazardous waste such as Petri dishes, tubes, plates, pipettes, pipette tips, specimen cups, and tubing sets conveniently and economically. With a Wide-Mouth Reclose-A/Remove-A-Lid cover, the sturdy corrugated paperboard construction offers strength, and the 3Mil red plastic liner is a strong barrier for leak resistance. The unique cover allows user to reclose the container during use to reduce odors and mess--or lid can be removed totally allowing disposal of large items such as entire racks of tubes or pipette tips at once.

Terminal Biohazard Keeper Floor Model

Whitney Products

Visit www.rsleads.com/802ml-187

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Reduce the risks

The Diagnostic Foam Rack Kit features pick-n-pluck foam, helping to reduce the possibility of potentially dangerous specimen container breaks and spills. Simply choose foam pieces from the block to conform to various sized vials and bottles, depending on shipping needs. This convenient kit contains a 14"x12" gusseted liquid-tight Bitran bag with re-closable, double-locking liquid-tight zipper, an attached document pouch, two 250-mL-capacity absorbent sheets, and the OSHA-required biohazard symbol.

Diagnostic Foam Rack Kit

COM-PAC International

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Effective barrier

Benchliners with bright-orange plastic backing prevent leaking of xylene and xylene substitutes, acetone, ketones, alcohol, and formalin to counters. In addition, the polyethylene backing has two layers so microbes do not leak through pinholes in the plastic. They have been rated as "an effective microbial barrier" to pathogens by an independent lab. The orange barrier layer will not flake off, and the white side is available in two different absorbencies. Available in 11"x16" and 16"x16", and other sizes to suit different labs needs.

Benchliners

Current Technologies

1-800-456-4022

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Reduce the risks

Comply with CDC guidelines for flu and TB prevention with The Infection Protection Station, a convenient, attractive way to prevent the spread of flu, TB, and other respiratory diseases. This highly visible display is a full-service protection station that helps keep staff, patients, and visitors healthy. The station comes pre-filled with 100 facial tissues, one 8-oz. bottle of instant hand sanitizer, 125 protective facemasks for adults and children, and an insert and poster with oversized graphics that remind patients and staff alike of the ABCs of good respiratory hygiene. Also included is a step-by-step CD guide covering pre-pandemic planning and post-pandemic response for outpatient medical facilities.

Infection Protection Station

Quality America

Visit www.rsleads.com/802ml-190

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