Pivoting to Security-as-a-Service: A Proactive Response to the Impact on the Economy
The U.S. economy remains unsettled during COVID-19. While many businesses have reopened, a majority continue to operate in limited capacity, either due to reduced occupancy numbers, or because customers are not comfortable to fully return to their pre-COVID consumer habits.
The accompanying decline in revenues means many businesses may be proceeding with caution on spending. They may have shifted to a more conservative cash preservation mode in hopes that they will survive until a new normal is established.
While splash shields and social distancing floor markers are a start, when it comes to technology, companies now have to incorporate new communication tools. A major one being video conferencing, to support remote employees so they can continue to collaborate with colleagues and customers. Then there are additional security solutions being installed in businesses as employees come back to work like touchless entries and thermal imaging solutions to pre-screen employees and customers for elevated temperatures, one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19.
Whether the pandemic is modifying social and commercial interactions, and whether or not the economy is good or bad, the reality is a variety of technology solutions will always be critical tools organizations use to help them achieve success. That is why during these difficult times, it’s important to adapt to new ways to help clients preserve capital like monthly payment procurement options.
Prime Communications has adopted a model that gives users the flexibility to take on new technologies at a low cost and the ability to control their technology roadmap.
Prime pays particular attention to the how-to pay aspect of customers’ security solution design efforts. Buying equipment outright restricts cash flow and burdens the organization with hardware ownership until it’s depreciated enough to justify replacement. “Security as a service leads to much better use of capital,” said Jamie Baumgardner COO of Prime Communications. “Switching to this model with a trusted service provider allows you to invest capital into revenue-producing projects instead of wasting it on depreciating security equipment.”
Security-As-A-Service program alleviates the following concerns
1. Cash Preservation
COVID has forced organizations into a capital preservation mode. In fact, in a recent survey with top national retail chains, 89 percent stated that their 2020 and 2021 budgets have been greatly impacted. Most CAPEX budget plans for technology equipment essentially dried up overnight. Now, more organizations are noticing that under an OPEX model they have better control over their cash flow. With an as-a-service OPEX subscription solution, customers pay a low, convenient and predictable monthly payment that includes the total security solution, and support services.
2. Uncertainty in The Solutions Needed
The Security-As-A-Service model addresses the uncertainty within technology strategies. Most organizations have had to completely adapt their technology needs due to the unexpected changes this year. And many organizations are still uncertain about what they may need going forward. This flexible option allows them to adapt freely.
A Payment Model that Provides You with More Security, Less Worry
In a world where security risks change by the day, paying large sums of money just to own equipment that will be soon outdated can represent a huge risk. Security-as-a-service saves money, provides flexibility and keeps your defenses tight using a payment structure that has proven itself. For these reasons, this is the future of security.
To learn more about Prime Communication’s Security-as-a-Service program, contact us today. Let’s discuss your specific security technology needs.
One-of-a-Kind Virtual Patient System Saves Time, Money and Exposure
Virtual Patient Interface Unit
A global pandemic has a way of bringing old issues into the spotlight. In the healthcare world, one such issue is patient monitoring, a task that has become even more challenging in recent months. But a unique Virtual Patient Interface System (VPIS) from Prime Communications, Inc. can solve many patient monitoring woes by providing safer, less expensive patient interaction while making care more efficient, safe and comfortable.
Since the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 has intensified concern in hospitals about contagiousness for all patients. This meant using increased amounts of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves and gowns – at an added cost. In addition to the burden of increased cost, the doffing and donning of PPE for even the most basic tasks in patient rooms eats up valuable time. Now, PPE supplies are dwindling, which could increase risk of exposure for medical personnel, as well as patients and their families.
One of Prime’s customers asked for help to solve these problems. The VPIS was Prime’s answer. It can eliminate the need for PPE in many situations, so existing protective gear lasts longer and everyone stays safer and healthier.
The VPIS is a highly mobile, compact system equipped with an adjustable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera and a pole-mounted video screen.
The camera allows staff – from outside the room – to visually examine patient IV connections, fluid levels, monitors and other room conditions. It can pan 360 degrees and zoom in close enough to read small print, if needed. This same type of camera has been used by security teams to monitor large parking lots, which gives an idea of its power, especially in the smaller venue of a hospital room.
The vertical-format VPIS screen provides two-way audio and visual communication between the patient and staff. The patient can see caregivers’ faces on the screen at an almost lifelike size and speak with them as if they were in the room.
Putting this wireless system on a lightweight mobile cart gives it the kind of flexibility traditional hard-wired systems don’t have — and the setup is much quicker and less expensive to deploy.
Reducing PPE Usage to Save Time and Money
As a result of heavy demand during the pandemic, PPE costs have skyrocketed — in some cases by as much as 1,000% compared to 2019. This means hospitals have had to rethink how they use the PPE they have more efficiently without negatively impacting patient and staff safety.
The VPIS allows personnel to perform simple patient care tasks with no need for staff to put on PPE and physically enter the room. Because they can check monitors and fluid levels easily using the PTZ camera and interview patients from a remote location, staff can easily monitor multiple rooms and check on groups of patients in record time.
These time savings can add up significantly, allowing medical personnel to address more important problems and get more done during their workday, potentially even reducing the need to hire more employees during the pandemic.
Increasing Safety by Reducing Physical Interaction
Of course, even with proper use of PPE, there’s still a chance patient interaction could result in medical workers contracting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases — and the more infected workers you have, the fewer there are to care for patients. One study of a SARS outbreak in Toronto in 2003 showed that over one-third of the infected were hospital staff (https://www.cmaj.ca/content/169/4/285.short).
And there’s patient risk, too, because caregiver interaction, even with PPE, could expose them to COVID-19 and other diseases. Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), as they are called, are common. The CDC reports that on a given day, an average of 1 of every 31 hospital patients is suffering from an HAI (https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/index.html).
It’s impossible to care for a patient with no contact whatsoever, but if select simple tasks and interactions can be carried out remotely, it lessens the chance of exposure to pathogens.
With the VPIS’s camera and screen, the patient remains comfortable in bed while medical personnel provide information and ask questions from outside the room. Friends and family also can make use of the technology from the remote monitors, visiting with the patient without putting themselves or the patient at risk.
The system can even help with recruiting. Healthcare workers weary of wearing PPE and worried about exposure may seek out institutions that offer creative ways to address efficiency and safety.
Versatile and Easy to Install
Traditional hard-wired video monitoring and call systems are common in medical facilities, but installing the technology is expensive and time consuming, and the equipment is not very flexible.
In contrast, Prime can roll out a virtual patient interface system in minimal time. The devices are plug-and-play and extremely easy to use. The cart and software are shipped to your medical facility practically ready to go, and user training is conducted remotely.
The highly mobile system is adaptable enough to fit nearly any healthcare situation. It can be moved easily where needed without having to relocate a patient. If a facility wants to add more carts, it’s easy to scale up without the costly, time-consuming, disruptive (and potentially risky) construction processes required to implement traditional wall-mounted monitoring systems.
Existing Technology Put to Best Use
A major global health event, such as the recent novel coronavirus pandemic, can put pressure on healthcare personnel in alarming new ways. Solutions are needed fast – and simplicity is a must during this type of crisis to remove the obstacle of “bugs in the system” we are used to dealing with when technology is new. Prime took stock of technologies they have already deployed many, many times to find a solution for their healthcare clients, and the VPIS is the result.
Does your healthcare facility need to solve for a PPE supply problem or an infectious diseases exposure challenge? Ask us how the VPIS might apply to your situation – and how other existing technologies could be refitted for your needs. An experienced full-service integrator like Prime can provide innovative, efficient, easy-to-deploy solutions that allow your staff to get on with the business of providing the best care.
For more information on the virtual patient interface system visit: https://primesecured.com/virtual-patient-interface-system
A New Year and New Uses for Old Tech
2020 presented many new challenges to the infrastructure of just about every industry. From healthcare to retail, security and beyond, companies in every field had to find new solutions to their problems. But necessity is the mother of invention, and, thanks to creative minds working under pressure this year, we can move into the new year armed with new applications for old technologies.
Here are some old technologies you can put to new uses in 2021:
Empathy: A Secret Weapon for Security Challenges
Prime Communications continually tests, recommends and implements security hardware, software and processes across many different industries and venues. But security is much more than that. Over the years, we’ve learned one security element is more important than all the others combined. You can’t buy it, package it or wire it. We are talking about empathy.
Keeping People Safe: The Critical Role of DAS in Emergency Communication
In the last decade, a series of disasters – from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to school shootings – has put a spotlight on the need to upgrade communications technology for the sake of public safety. Emergency medical personnel must be able to reach one another in the heat of a crisis. Victims must have a way to let loved ones know they are okay. Phones and radios can even help responders find those who have been hurt.
Prime Communications, Inc. helps assess and install new public safety Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) as well as cellular service amplifiers. We also work with clients to evaluate existing systems and determine whether they can be upgraded or replaced.
“Existing systems may not need to be updated to ensure an occupancy certificate, and it’s tempting to just let it go because it’s hardly ever used,” said Ron McNichols of Prime. “But most organizations want to make sure everyone’s safe in an emergency.”
This article will help you understand some of the issues you may find your organization facing and solutions you might apply to improve both public safety DAS and cellular service in your own building.