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Question
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Ken
I enjoy reading the conversations on your emails daily and hope that more dealers will subscribe and use this information. My question is in regards to medical monitoring for residential customers "PERS". I have noticed some companies will add a medical pendant to the burglar Alarm system with Two way voice monitoring and consider the setup as Burglar and medical combination service.
Does that fall under the definition of "PERS" ? Is there a legal definition for "PERS" and "medical monitoring" that qualifies as "PERS"" v adding a one button pendant to a Two way voice Alarm system? Or, can any Alarm qualifies for As "PERS" ?
I will like to hear your advise in the matter and opinions of others as well
Mark
Top Security
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Answer
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Though "medical alert" was the common way to refer to the service, statutes called it Personal Emergency Response Service, PERS. The original service was a home base with pendants that worked within the home by remote. PERS units are now self contained and not restricted to a home base, and include GPS tracking, so they are used as medical alert, panic button and location finder. Apps are available for smart phones.
Here is how a few statutes define PERS:
PERS definitions:
ARKANSAS: a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, in home electronic support system that provides two-way verbal and electronic communication with an emergency control center. It enables an elderly, infirm or homebound individual to secure immediate help in the event of physical, emotional or environmental emergency.
TEXAS: Personal emergency response system" means an alarm system that is:
(A) installed in the residence of a person;
(B) monitored by an alarm systems company;
(C) designed only to permit the person to signal the occurrence of a medical or personal emergency on the part of the person so that the company may dispatch appropriate aid; and
(D) not part of a combination emergency response system.
NEW YORK: A Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS) is the provision and maintenance of electronic communication equipment in the home of a client. This equipment, when activated or if a timer mechanism has not been reset, signals a monitoring agency. PERS also includes the continuous monitoring of such signals by a trained operator and, in case of receipt of such signals, the immediate notification of the emergency response organizations, or persons, as the client has previously specified.
The Standard Form Contracts cover PERS. You can get a PERS Agreement that covers one state, or you can get a PERS Nationwide Agreement. The individual state form is available on line at www.alarmcontracts.com. The nationwide PERS form is available by contacting our Contract Administrator, Eileen Wagda at (516) 747- 6700 ext. 312
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