We reviewed top-rated medical alert systems to help you find the best solution to protect yourself or your loved ones at home and on the go.

Medical alert systems connect users to a dispatcher who can send for assistance in the event of a medical emergency. Some systems are designed for in-home use while others offer security on the go, but all are designed to reassure people who are medically vulnerable and often living alone—as well as their loved ones.

What Is a Medical Alert System?

A medical alert system, also known as a personal emergency response system (PERS) or a medical emergency response system, enables a person to connect to medical help quickly in the event of a health emergency. Most systems include a transmitter device, an emergency call center and a console that uses landline telephones, cellular networks and/or GPS to connect the transmitter with the monitoring center.

Transmitter devices are often wearable pendants, necklaces, bracelets or smartwatches that feature an easily accessible emergency button and a speaker for quick connection to a trained operator.

How Do Medical Alert Systems Work?

If you have a medical concern or emergency, press the help button on your medical alert system. The device sends a signal to your medical alert provider, connecting you with an emergency response expert at the call center. Often, the operator will connect you with the family member or friend listed in your contact information, notifying them that you need help. In an emergency, they help dispatch an ambulance, the police or the local fire department to your home.

Who Is a Medical Alert System for?

Most medical alert systems are designed for older adults, especially those living alone.

While a medical alert system cannot prevent a fall or subsequent injury, it can help the person access emergency services for much quicker assistance. In addition to a manual emergency button, many systems offer automatic fall detection, sensing when the user falls and notifying emergency services shortly thereafter.

Falls aside, medical alert systems can support safe aging in place with features like medication reminders, activity monitoring that checks in on the user every 12 hours or so and live assistance for when the user experiences any other pressing medical concerns.

Medical alert systems are also an appropriate solution for anyone—regardless of their age—who is at risk of experiencing a medical emergency and wants reassurance that they can easily access help.

The Different Types of Medical Alert Systems

In-Home Medical Alert Systems

In-home medical alert systems typically feature two components:

• A stationary base device that contains a speaker and microphone that connects the user to the company’s call center. These devices use either a landline connection or a cellular connection.
• A wearable element, such as a pendant or bracelet, with a button the user can press to activate the base device in the event of an emergency. The button’s range of use, meaning the maximum distance it can be from the base device to still activate a call when pressed, varies significantly from product to product.

Mobile Medical Alert Systems

Mobile medical alert systems use cellular service and GPS technology to help the user connect with the call center both inside and outside. Most of these units are all-in-one devices of varying sizes and efficiency. Typically, the more compact the device or the more features it offers, the shorter its battery life, making frequent charging important.

Important Features of Medical Alert Systems

Live 24/7 Monitoring

To get the most protective value from a medical alert system, opt for one that offers live 24/7 monitoring. That way, no matter when you have a medical concern and press your emergency button for help, you’ll always be connected with a live emergency response agent.

Automatic Fall Detection

Typically for an additional monthly fee, medical alert system makers offer automatic fall detection. As its name suggests, this feature automatically notifies the call center when your wearable device senses—using technology like accelerometers and processors—that you had a fall and don’t move for a period of time after the fall. It’s designed to help in the event of a serious fall that renders the user unconscious, unable to press their help button manually or unable to communicate verbally with the emergency response expert at the call monitoring center.

Wall Buttons

Many medical alert systems allow you to purchase additional wall buttons for the higher-risk areas of your home, such as the bathroom, kitchen and stairwells. Just like a wearable pendant, when pressed they send a signal to the base station, which communicates with the call center. Wall buttons are useful for people who forget to wear or dislike wearing their devices.

Lockboxes

Some medical alert system makers encourage you to add a lockbox to your device purchase. It’s intended to hold an extra key for emergency responders so they don’t have to break down a locked door to come assist in an emergency event. The location and access of your lockbox is often noted in your profile with the medical alert system, so the call center employee can share those details with emergency responders when necessary.

Water-Resistant Wearables

If you want to be able to keep the wearable component of your medical alert system on your person or nearby while bathing or showering, it’s important for the device to hold up well to water and humidity.

GPS Tracking

Medical alert systems that offer live location tracking via GPS may be helpful for active seniors and those with memory loss. These systems are meant to alert family members directly and quickly of their loved one’s locations.

Activity Monitoring

Similar to automatic fall detection, this feature tracks the user’s movement. It notifies family members and friends if their loved one hasn’t shown signs of movement for an extended period.

Medication Reminders

Some medical alert systems offer medication reminders. These scheduled notifications can help keep aging adults compliant with the care plan prescribed by their health care professionals.

What Is the Most Important Medical Alert System Feature?

According to a recent Forbes Health survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by OnePoll, respondents value many of the features offered by modern-day medical alert system providers. However, three in particular stand out among the rest: features like activity monitoring and medication reminders (49%), GPS or cellular connectivity for 24/7 assistance (44%), and extras like voice-activated wall buttons and lock boxes (43%).

How Much Do Medical Alert Systems Cost?

Monitoring services for a medical alert system can cost as low as $14.95 per month and as much as $61.95 per month. These prices don’t necessarily include the initial cost of the equipment itself—some medical alert companies charge a one-time upfront fee for the system devices.

In addition to upfront device fees, some medical alert system providers charge a one-time connection or installation fee required at the time of setup, and these fees can vary significantly.

Add-on features typically come with additional charges, too. Automatic fall detection often increases a monthly bill by $10, and additional wall buttons and lockboxes can come with small add-on fees as well. If a caregiver app is available as part of the system, it may be free, though some cost a small amount to download to your smartphone.

The lower end of the price spectrum typically includes the most basic medical alert system equipment and connectivity. Meanwhile, the more you spend, the more features and functionality you get, such as automatic fall detection, live location tracking, caregiver app access and more.

Unfortunately, some medical alert system providers have less-than-transparent pricing structures. For instance, they may not lock in a subscription price when you sign up, ultimately raising rates without notice after a year of service. Others might not clearly disclose connection or activation fees until you reach the final steps of purchasing a system and enrolling in a monitoring subscription service.

How to Get a Medical Alert System for Free

Your ability to get a free medical alert system largely depends on your financial circumstances and insurance coverage. Those who are eligible for Medicaid, for example, are often eligible for other waiver programs that can help cover the costs associated with medical alert systems. Veterans often have access to benefits that make medical alert systems more affordable as well.

Annual vs. Monthly Subscriptions

If you’re concerned about the total cost of a medical alert system, consider how much you’d spend on a system when you pay annually for the monitoring service versus paying monthly.

Depending on the medical alert system you choose, the company may offer an annual subscription with a price that averages less monthly than a standard monthly subscription cost. You have to be comfortable paying the full amount up front, but the discount can be significant in the long term.

What Insurance Covers Medical Alert Systems?

Only a select few private insurance providers pay for medical alert systems. But in some cases, the devices can be considered tax deductible if they’re deemed “medically necessary equipment” and prescribed by a doctor.

Does Medicare Cover Medical Alert Systems?

Typically, traditional Medicare (Medicare Part B) doesn’t cover the purchasing or monthly subscription costs of medical alert systems because they are not usually deemed “medically necessary” durable medical equipment (DME).

Meanwhile, some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C), which are offered through private insurance companies, may provide partial or full coverage of medical alert systems. If you’re insured by a Medicare Advantage plan, ask your provider about their coverage policies regarding medical alert systems.

Choosing the Right Medical Alert System

The right medical alert system depends on you or your loved one’s activity levels and preferences. For instance, someone who spends a significant amount of time away from home or is prone to wander will likely benefit from a mobile medical alert system. But someone who rarely leaves their house might be well served by an in-home system that covers the square footage of their living area.

Think about how you or the person you’re shopping for typically spends time and focus on medical alert systems specifically designed for those lifestyle factors.

Where to Purchase a Medical Alert System

Most medical alert systems can be purchased directly from manufacturers via their websites. You can also call their customer service lines to speak with company representatives directly and place your order over the phone. If you prefer shopping in person, retailers like Walmart and Best Buy sell medical alert systems, as well as pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens.

Sources

References

• Appeadu M, Bordoni B. Falls and Fall Prevention In The Elderly. StatPearls Publishing. 2021.
• Durable medical equipment (DME) coverage. Medicare.gov. Accessed 6/8/2021.
• Medical Alert Devices. Consumers’ Checkbook. Accessed 6/8/2021.
• Life Alert Cost Comparison and Review. Senior Safety Reviews. Accessed 6/8/2021.

At least 24 American service members, civilian Defense Department employees or military dependents have been turned away for medical care from Japanese hospitals in the past two years, and four have died, according to Navy and Marine Corps leadership responsible for personnel in Japan.

In one case, a 7-year-old child who suffered a traumatic brain injury last January died from the oxygen deprivation she experienced as ambulance techs spent 35 minutes searching for a facility that would take her.

Several U.S. military facilities in Japan have emergency rooms, but none are designated as trauma centers, nor are they equipped to handle severe emergencies. According to a command investigation into the 7-year-old's death obtained by Military.com, military treatment facilities at Yokosuka and Okinawa since 2021 have not been able to handle severe injuries to troops or family members, including a gunshot wound, a rappelling accident, a severe car crash or a fall from a bunk bed that resulted in a liver laceration.

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Adm. John Aquilino, commander of Indo-Pacific Command, directed U.S. Forces Japan in October to increase emergency medical care after a service member's spouse "died of an intracranial hemorrhage" when several hospitals in Tokyo denied her admittance, according to a portion of the military order obtained by Military.com.

An investigation into the death "indicated that latency in getting to an operating room was a likely contributor," noted the order.

Aquilino directed Army, Navy and Air Force commanders in Japan to "assess and provide planning estimates" to Improve emergency care access for American patients covered by the Status of Forces Agreement, or SOFA, with the island nation.

"Upon completion of the planning assessments, follow-on orders will direct necessary actions to realize increased access to care," the order stated.

Patients who were turned away from Japanese hospitals and died also included a civilian Defense Department employee who suffered a heart attack and was denied care at 10 hospitals. He succumbed shortly before an 11th facility agreed to accept him, according to the command investigation into the girl's death by the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

"Denial of U.S. military and SOFA status personnel for emergency hospitalization in Japan is not new. SOFA members in Japan have been routinely denied access to emergency care, sometimes to fatal results," stated the investigation, published Feb. 23, 2023, by Lt. Gen. James Bierman, commander of Marine Forces Japan.

Emergency care in Japan differs significantly from the American approach, which includes dialing 911 and having an expectation that an ambulance will transport a patient to the nearest hospital or best-equipped facility for the situation.

In Japan, the emergency medicine specialty was not developed until 2010, and the country does not have enough emergency medicine physicians to cover ERs around the clock. If an emergency specialist is not on duty, the emergency treatment may involve a physician trained in another specialty who is not obligated to treat patients whose condition is outside their capabilities.

As a result, patients can be denied care or diverted. The situation not only affects U.S. and civilian personnel; it also applies to Japanese citizens. In December 2022, more than 8,000 patients were denied emergency services in Japan and another 16,000 were turned away in January 2023, according to the command investigation.

The approach proved tragic for the family of a Marine assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Kinser on Okinawa. While on a shopping trip at a mall in Urasoe City, the Marine's 7-year-old daughter lost her balance on an escalator and fell more than 50 feet to a floor several levels down.

Suffering a severe head injury, the girl was conscious after her fall -- able to sit up and acknowledge her mother's presence by saying "Mommy" -- but began experiencing respiratory issues and low blood oxygen levels. She also received inadequate and even harmful treatment by a physician who had been dispatched to the scene from a nearby hospital.

Ambulance technicians then spent 35 minutes trying to find a facility that would treat the girl, including one with a pediatric intensive care unit that recommended that U.S. military physicians, with whom they were communicating, consider end-of-life care.

Doctors at that hospital did not want to accept the little girl, because they felt that "heroic measures should not be attempted and withdrawing care would be 'difficult for American people to do in Japanese hospitals due to cultural differences,'" according to the investigation.

The girl eventually was transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, just nine minutes from where she fell. She was placed in the intensive care unit and monitored by an adult intensive care physician who told investigators they phoned a friend who specializes in pediatric intensive care to help provide critical care via telehealth from San Diego.

The girl was evacuated to Naval Medical Center San Diego, where she died on Feb. 15, 2023, after being removed from life support.

Concerns have been raised in the past several years over the availability of medical care for military personnel, families and civilian Department of Defense employees in Japan. In December 2022, the Defense Health Agency announced that it would treat civilian U.S. employees only on a space-available basis, and it notified longtime patients that they should plan to receive medical treatment from local providers if American military hospitals can't accommodate them.

Following a backlash from affected personnel, DHA clarified the policy in March 2023, announcing that civilians could continue to receive treatment for chronic conditions at military hospitals, but appointments for acute care would remain on a space-available basis.

In June, U.S. military medical staff at Kadena Air Base began informing pregnant service members, spouses and dependents that they should plan to deliver their babies at a facility other than Naval Hospital Okinawa -- a diversion caused by severe staffing shortages at the hospital.

The Defense Health Agency responded to the announcement from the 18th Medical Group at Kadena, saying the hospital had no plans to divert and deliveries would continue. DHA said the shortages were related to personnel moves and authorized a private health services contractor to offer signing bonuses and relocation assistance to attract labor and delivery nurses to Okinawa.

Shortages in the hospital and its affiliated clinics have become more pronounced since the changeover of hospital administration from the military services to the Defense Health Agency, according to Randi Wilson, a civilian Defense Department employee who advocates for military families and Defense Department civilians in Japan.

The move was related to health-care reforms that began nearly a decade ago to align the military medical commands to care for service personnel, while the DHA became responsible for the care of military family members and retirees.

But the latest deaths and lack of access to care has affected U.S. service members as well.

U.S. Forces Japan did not respond to a request from Military.com on Nov. 21 for a copy of Aquilino's order or to questions about the deaths of military patients in Japan. On Wednesday, after a second request for comment, the command sent an unattributed response, saying that it continues to "advocate along multiple lines of effort to address the ongoing medical concerns of the 110,000 personnel and family members in Japan."

According to the statement, commanders have conducted private meetings and working groups with decision-makers and participants in and outside of Japan.

"Advocacy for our personnel and families will not stop as long as there are access-to-care concerns to address and improvements to be made. Bottom line, service members and their families deserve the best medical care possible while serving so far from home," the statement read.

Officials added that they are working with the Defense Health Agency regarding the situation and referred additional questions to DHA.

DHA spokesman Peter Graves said Thursday that Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, DHA and the military services are "keenly focused on primary, specialty and emergency care" in Japan and that assessments are ongoing.

"This comprehensive review will be provided to the under secretary for personnel and readiness once completed later this quarter," Graves wrote in an email.

The issues of staffing shortages at military medical facilities have garnered the attention of members of Congress, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who sent letters last year to the Defense Department demanding fixes.

"Providing the best possible services to support service members and civilians deployed overseas enhances readiness, retention, and morale," Warren wrote in a letter in January 2023.

Any fixes, however, will come too late for a Marine family, who may have lost a daughter to traumatic injury even if the accident had happened in the U.S. As the mother sat by her little girl in the stationary ambulance for 35 minutes, she begged the technicians to take them to Naval Hospital Okinawa, according to the investigation.

In an interview with investigators, the mother shared the last words she had with her conscious daughter.

"I said, it's OK. [Mommy's] here with you. You're so beautiful. I love you so much, and it's OK if you need to go and be with Jesus, OK?" she said.

Related: With Hour-Long Drives and Weeks Until Appointments, Pregnant Military Women Feel Pain of Medical Reforms

©2024 The News Service of Florida

Senate and House members Thursday filed bills that would provide a public records exemption for personal information about medical examiners and their family members.

Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Lisa Dunkley, D-Sunrise, filed the bills (SB 1272 and HB 1237) for consideration during the 2024 legislative session, which will start Tuesday.

The bills would shield from public disclosure information such as addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth of current and former medical examiners and their spouses and children.

“The Legislature finds that the release of such personal identifying and location information poses potential security risks for and allows unwarranted intrusion into the private lives of such current or former medical examiners and their family members,” the bills said. “Public availability of such personal identifying and location information may compromise the ability of such current or former medical examiners to carry out their public duties and disrupt the operation of the medical examiners’ offices.”

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocare Medical, a leader in fully open automated instrumentation, announces a collaboration with Molecular Instruments® (MI), the inventor of the HCR™ Imaging technology. This partnership brings together Biocare Medical's expertise in automated bioimaging systems with MI's suite of advanced HCR™ Products, setting a new standard in automated in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Molecular Instruments®: Inventor of the HCR™ Platform: Molecular Instruments®, the market disruptor in bioimaging and ISH reagents, brings to the table their patented HCR™ Imaging technology. This technology is widely acclaimed for its array of robust features including mild sample preparation with no protease digestion, isothermal amplification at room temperature, and availability with both fluorescent and brightfield imaging. The HCR™ RNA-ISH assay, a flagship application of this technology, is optimized to preserve tissue morphology and integrates seamlessly with existing IHC/IF workflows. With HCR™ RNA-ISH, researchers can target any RNA sequence in any sample with exceptional performance, speed, and versatility.

Biocare Medical's ONCORE Pro X: A Paradigm in Automation: Recognized as a leader in automated instrumentation, Biocare Medical's ONCORE Pro X exemplifies innovation and versatility. Designed to accommodate a wide range of assays, the ONCORE Pro X is now poised to harness the capabilities of MI's HCR™ Platform, offering unparalleled flexibility and precision in bioimaging and ISH applications for unlimited research potential.

Synergizing Strengths for Advanced Bioimaging: The integration of MI's HCR™ Platform into Biocare Medical's ONCORE Pro X instrument represents a synergy of strengths. Biocare Medical's commitment to open and versatile automation perfectly complements MI's novel approach to bioimaging. Together, they are set to redefine what is possible in automated bioimaging, expanding capabilities in academic research, drug development, and clinical diagnostics.

Story continues

A New Era in Bioimaging: By integrating Biocare Medical's advanced automated instrumentation with the revolutionary HCR™ Platform from Molecular Instruments, researchers can now harness the power of the ONCORE Pro. This advancement allows for faster turnaround times and bolsters high throughput efficiency, all made possible by the comprehensive automation provided by the ONCORE Pro. With this powerful combination, targeting any RNA sequence in any sample is more efficient than ever, delivering unmatched performance, speed, and versatility. This partnership is poised to unlock new possibilities and set benchmarks in precision, efficiency, and versatility.

About Biocare Medical
Biocare Medical is a global leader in solutions for cancer research and diagnostics, providing world-class reagents, including tissue-conserving simultaneous Multiplex IHC antibody cocktails and detections; renowned Customer Care; and a comprehensive suite of advanced instrumentation for IHC, molecular, and histology testing. Customers include clinical anatomic pathology laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and biotechnology companies as well as academic, government, military, and other non-profit laboratories. Biocare's reagent portfolio includes primary antibodies, Multiplex IHC, and FISH probes for target indications. Biocare also offers a unique line of polymer detections for clinical, human, and animal research that deliver high sensitivity and exceptionally low background. The Company's advanced automated instrument platforms, intelliPATH+, ONCORE Pro and ONCORE Pro X have been designed to meet every need from high throughput clinical diagnostics to flexible research requirements.

About Molecular Instruments
Molecular Instruments® (MI) develops and synthesizes kits powered by its innovative HCR™ Platform for bioimaging applications in academic research, drug development, and clinical pathology and diagnostics. MI offers products for automated and manual chromogenic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (ISH) assays, featuring a protease-free workflow, native compatibility with existing IHC/IF assays, and straightforward image analysis. HCR™ Products are designed to be accessible to all researchers with complimentary introductory starter kits, free custom probe design, and pricing that makes sense.

Press Contact:
John Steel
Vice President, Marketing & Ecommerce
925-822-8132
370818@email4pr.com
Biocare Medical

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