Infant abductions from healthcare facilities have significantly declined compared to abductions from homes or other places, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children found. The decline is thanks hospitals using advanced technologies and protocols to ensure the safety of infant patients, Dan Yaross, president-elect of the International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety, told WHYY.
Hospital security measures include badges or key cards to get into inpatient units, bracelets or monitors that track infants’ whereabouts in real-time and will set off alarms if the baby leaves a designated area, bracelets on parents and infants to match information, increased cameras and parent-approved visitor lists.
However, even with these protocols, some abductions still happen, sometimes due to human error or failure to follow protocol. In many cases, the abduction can be due to certain custody arrangements.
“One parent decides, ‘I’m taking the child’ without telling the other parent or telling the hospital. That happens,” Mr. Yaross said. “You have all these other practices and procedures that you try to follow, but if you have a custodial parent and non-custodial parent and they’re fighting and arguing and whatever, and both are still allowed to visit the patient, it makes it tough on staff. That’s where it really takes a lot of collaboration and coordination.”
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
