In addition to the security measures that a hospital implements to ensure the safety of
patients and visitors, most have installed added security measures in the maternity area.
These security systems are specifically keyed to operate with the parents and the newborns,
to ensure that the newborn leaves specific areas of the unit with only the parents
or appropriate clinical personnel. Most systems operate using an electronic ID bracelet,
which transmits a signal from the newborn to receivers located at entrance and exit
points. Securing it to the infant or child’s limb with the alarm band activates the transmitter.
A display panel showing the floor plan of the unit designating the different locations
or zones will visually and audibly inform the staff when an alarm has occurred. In
addition to a display panel, a graphical display (usually with a print function) collects all
transmitter data and displays the location and transmitter number of the infant or child
involved. These control devices are placed at the control desk or centrally located room;
they also are integrated into a main security panel at the hospital’s security office. Some
more sophisticated systems also can be connected to the elevators, causing them to
bypass the floor, thus preventing egress by completely isolating the floor from the rest
of the hospital.