Elopement Deterrents
Charles Schnabolk, Bernard J. Scaglione · Productivity Press eBooks · 2025
Case #1 : Based on the recommendation of their outside consultant, a major healthcare network with more than 11,000 annual births investigated state-of-the-art protection systems after experiencing failures with the installed systems. Their evaluation process was a classic exercise in how to evaluate the changing technology before making a final selection. After visiting many sites and witnessing demonstrations of the most popular infant protection systems available, the security staff from various sites within the network selected two sites where different infant protection systems were installed for a one-year test at the manufacturers’ expense. After a year of operation, data was developed based on interviews with the nursing staff, false alarm reports, and response to service calls from the two local installers. Then, they invited each manufacturer to make a presentation before a group of security staff members and senior administrators who would vote on the winning system – much like the American Idol TV show. One system was then selected for installation in all the network facilities. The rejected system was removed and returned to the manufacturer. An employee of the winning system, who was formerly with the rejected system, made the presentation on behalf of the rejected system. The presentation was so insulting that the winning manufacturer instituted a lawsuit. Salespeople have a strange set of loyalties that seem to change on an annual cycle.