| The Differences between Security Monitoring and Medical Alarm PERS Monitoring Home healthcare monitoring for Medical Alarm /PERS is not the same as two-way security monitoring and requires special focus on serving seniors. Security monitoring is all about the efficiency of handling a call. For obvious reasons, false alarms, or alarming the central station when it is not a security emergency is strongly discouraged. Even now with the strong push for alarm verification either by two-way voice, video or some other method, the focus is how quickly the central station completes the call and gets off the phone. Unlike Medical Alarm /PERS operators, a traditional security operator does not need extensive training. The traditional security system will tell them exactly what is happening in the house, whether it is a break-in or a fire, what part of the house is being affected, etc. The operator then calls the appropriate emergency department (police or fire), relays the necessary information, and ends the call. Monitoring for home healthcare or Medical Alarm /PERS is completely different than traditional security. Medical Alarm /PERS central station monitoring services makes special efforts to make sure the user feels comfortable pressing the call button anytime. They work to break down the barrier that many seniors have about “being a bother”. Many have a complete profile on each user including personal and health information to be able to supply to the paramedics if needed. They also have personal information such as a call list on of family, friends and neighbors who can help out or “check in” on subscriber or take care of a pet if needed. The operator who monitors a Medical Alarm /PERS customer needs to be personable, have patience and be thoroughly trained in senior care. They need to be aware of issues and possible disabilities that the user may face such as limited mobility, loss of sight and hearing, cognitive limitations, along with their social and spiritual needs. Some Medical Alarm /PERS monitoring centers may even expect their operators to have medical or emergency response training. The operator must talk to the customer to determine if the “emergency” is physical or social, and they need to respect the fact that either emergency could be life threatening. A patient who feels lonely, isolated, and depressed can be in just as much danger as a patient who is feeling chest pains. The PERS monitoring standards include actually encouraging the user to push the button “anytime” for “any reason” and never feel like they are bothering someone or that the reason for the call is not important. It may not be, however it’s viewed as better to handle a call that is not important than not get one that could be lifesaving because the person “didn’t want to be a bother.” One of the most important aspects of selling a Medical Alarm /PERS unit is to partner with a central station monitoring partner who has experience and is committed to Medical Alarm /PERS monitoring. When choosing a monitoring partner, look for: | 
