— new vendor interview by Sylvia Talkington
Mark Gottlieb, President of LogicMark, heard the call for healthcare technology innovation a little over four years ago when he was still in the consumer electronics market. He used his expertise to customize existing technology he found for PERS systems. The result: Freedom Alert, the first two-way speaker phone communicator.
Seniors want the freedom to live at home, not technology toys.
People living alone are typically unable to get help during an emergency. A single event, such as a fall, marks the end of their ability to remain in their home. Getting assistance in a timely manner can make a major difference in preserving quality of life, if not life itself.
Situations do arise where a senior or disabled person living alone needs a little help but not necessarily a 911 call and an ambulance. Perhaps they need a hand from a neighbor or want to check in with a friend. Freedom Alert uses new technology that expands capability and provides options not available before.
Pressing one button on a mini-pendant allows instant, 2-way communication. A switch on a base unit can personalize the system so it will automatically perform one of three actions:
- call up to four custom contacts
- call up to four custom contacts and then 911
- call only 911
Emergencies can happen anywhere. Some PERS users are able to garden or go for short walks in the neighborhood. Freedom Alert operates anywhere in and around the home at distances of up to several hundred yards from the base station. With traditional PERS systems, if help is needed in a room other than where the base station is located, the person may be too far from the base to be able to communicate with the monitoring company. Freedom Alert puts the microphone and speaker inside the emergency button pendant, a significant improvement over having to yell to the base station.
Freedom from monthly fees
Gottlieb describes LogicMark’s choice not to employ a nurse call center as an advantage rather than a limitation. “By using 911, the tax supported federal program available to all citizens, Freedom Alert eliminates monthly fees,” the company’s president explains. “Calling 911 links directly to an emergency operator, not a third party call center. That operator has the person’s phone number and location and can send the most appropriate responder right away.
Gottlieb also told HCTR his system avoids contracts and activation costs by making the system available for purchase. Standard system includes:
- Water resistant mini-pendant with two rechargeable lithium batteries
- Lanyard, belt clip, and wrist strap holder (adaptable to a wheelchair)
- Base unit with rechargeable batteries that continually charge – for 24 hour battery back-up in the event of a power outage
- Power adapter and telephone cord
While Freedom Alert attaches to any traditional phone line, optional Voice over IP compatibility is also available when needed. A system test button audibly announces “battery is OK,” “battery is low,” “replace battery now” and “All functions are OK.” One base station can support up to 4 pendants. www.LogicMark.com
