CMH launches Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) designed to protect staff and infants—called, Staff Protection and HUGs. These systems will change the way we safeguard staff and our most vulnerable patients.
“New parents already juggle a lot—whether they are first time parents or managing other siblings, bills and groceries. This system gives them peace of mind knowing their child is safe with us,” says Melissa Sockett, Manager of the Emergency Department and spearhead of this initiative.
HUGs band on an infant's ankle
One band, one life
A little band—nothing more than an inconspicuous accessory—plays a key role in setting off a series of alarms if it gets anywhere near the doors without exiting. The doors lock down, alarms are sounded in the unit, staff are notified, and security responds within seconds.
HUGs go-live is October 1, 2025.
However, safety doesn’t stop at our youngest patients. Staff Protection rolls out first—putting security and help at their fingertips.
Safety, one button away
“Violence or harassment—when your life is in danger—should never be desensitized, let alone accepted as ‘part of the job’,” says one ED nurse.
This collaborative approach is key to making the system work—removing barriers and creating a seamless, whole-system response. With one goal always at the forefront: safety.
Training of our teams has already begun with Staff Protection going live on September 30, 2025. Emergency Department, Day Hospital, and In-Patient Mental Health will be the first to receive the alert system.
Together, we’re keeping people at the heart of all we do—from the tiniest newborn to the staff who care for them.
**Photo courtesy of: Hugs Infant Tag | Securitas Healthcare