Using Tech to Save Lives: Which Medical Alert System is good for you?

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Technology

Tech advances are actually doing service to humanity in terms of improving communication, automating work, providing solutions to problems and now calling for rescue services in case any emergency. This is good news not only for special needs people in the society but also everyone because tragedy can strike when it is least expected, and a quick response for help is what is needed.

This is what designers of medical alert systems had in mind when they came up with a medical alert system that enables folks to call for help when they happen to experience an accident, a fall or experience a medical condition like stroke and heart attack.

All medical alert systems work in the same way whereby a transmitter is worn around the neck, wrist or attached to the wheelchair. Whenever there is an emergency, the users who are usually seniors call for help by simply pressing the transmitter alert button. While these gadgets have been there since the 1970s, the difference now is the enhancements that have come through tech advancements.

For instance, they can detect accidents automatically and call for help even without a press on the button, and they do this with 95% of accuracy. Well, this sounds magnificent for caregivers and other family members but should you just pick any medical alert system that you happen to come across? Not at all, because you need to consider certain factors and probably compare medicaid covered medical alert systems online to choose the one that is right for you.

• Monthly service charges and fees

The monthly charges are not the same across all medical alert systems. These costs also depend on the features that you need like whether you want GPS mobile, cellular or landline.

Going for the GPS mobile functionality may also require you to pay a device fee which also differs in value from one provider to another. Some providers have no minimum obligation, activation fees or cancellation fees while others charge either activation or cancellation fees with a minimum commitment of 30 days, 90 day or even 3 years.

• Features

The features that you should look out for in a medical alert system include the automatic fall detection, mobile 911 phones, and range which is measured in feet. The standard range that is offered is 300-600 feet while there are those who do not provide either mobile phone 911 or automatic fall detection. The best option would be the one with all the features including a wider range.

• Monitoring services

The monitoring services offered by a medical alert service provider is paramount because it will determine whether the device will help you eventually or not which is the main reason for having requested the service in the first place.

The first thing to look at here is the provider’s certification and UL-listing. The second thing is whether the service is outsourced or in-house. In-house services may be useful and also outsourcing if it is done within the country. Otherwise, it may be hard for some people to understand foreign accents in case outsourcing is provided to a company from outside the country.

The technology that most medical alert services use is good, but it also needs the full support of all the people involved. When you go through many user reviews, you will realise that many providers do not deliver what they are supposed to be offering efficiently. This is because alerts may fail to be detected or responded to while others simply do not meet the user expectations promptly.

This makes it difficult for anyone to trust these gadgets which are otherwise very useful in saving lives during emergency situations.

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