Upgrading from PALS 9000 to ATLAS
At Actall, we’re always innovating for our customers. We are steadfast in our commitment to helping ensure safety and bring efficiencies to workplaces. It’s that kind of thinking that led us to develop ATLAS, a real-time locating system (RTLS) that’s perfectly suited to work in complex physical environments such as corrections facilities and hospitals.
ATLAS only exists, though, because of the success of its predecessor program: PALS 9000.
PALS 9000 uses infrared (IR) technology to assist in locating, and its duress system helps get assistance where it’s needed, quickly.
But with hardware and data-processing advancements in recent years, along with ATLAS’s technology that uses radio-frequency-based solutions for complex architectures, it may make sense for facilities currently using PALS 9000 to consider upgrading to ATLAS.
To be clear, PALS 9000 is still a fully operable system (although it may require computer upgrades from time to time). The difference is the increased accuracy and the technology itself. I’ll walk you through some of the top-level takeaways of ATLAS, along with what an upgrade process would look like.
ATLAS is Built for Flexibility and Customization to Your Needs
PALS 9000 is fantastic for alarm enunciation. If a patient, inmate or staff member needs assistance, alarms are quickly routed where they need to go.
But tech advancements have proven just how valuable harnessing data can be-ATLAS is built to help your facility maintain its safety standards with an even higher degree of accuracy in tracking people and assets, while also leveraging data to bring new efficiencies to your workflows and facilities.
Let’s start with tracking and accuracy. PALS 9000 is an IR system, which means that locator tags on a person or asset need to be directly in the line of sight of a locator in order to achieve accurate tracking. Meaning, if a staffer puts his or her tag into a pocket, it’s no longer “visible” to a locator. Since ATLAS works on radio frequency, tags don’t need to be “visible” to any locators-whether they’re in pockets or not, tags are consistently pinging locators (along with numerous other technologies in play) to provide a high degree of accuracy, down to the room.
Beyond the all-important implications for staff, patient and imate safety, ATLAS technology also provides data that can be used to dramatically improve efficiencies and understand workflows.
For example, hospital administrators seek to analyze the length and quality of patient interactions with nurses. ATLAS system tags that nurses wear can ping off distinct, zone-based locators to show when a patient was brought back to an examination room, how much time the nurse spent with the patient obtaining medical history or checking vital signs, how long it takes to move from point A to B, and so much more.
Here’s another application. Say a corrections officer gets to work, tests his tag and then goes for a cup of coffee before his rounds. He repeats this pattern every day for years. Then, one day, his tag is pinging from a stairwell at the far end of a distant wing when he’s usually in the cafeteria getting his coffee. This break in pattern could give a quick heads-up about a possible security or safety issue before one even happens.
ATLAS excels in complex physical environments: Buildings with thick walls where signals struggle to propagate or multi-floor facilities that require room-level accuracy are especially good fits for ATLAS technology.
Leveraging this highly accurate, location-based data can improve safety, efficiencies, workplace culture, transparency and more.
Consultation and Installation: How the Upgrade Process Works
An RTLS system install and upgrade from PALS 9000 to ATLAS is an involved process-for good reason. This is not an out-of-the-box solution. It’s 100% customized to your facility’s unique needs, and it’s built to achieve specific objectives that you and your facility have for accurate staff, asset and / or workflow tracking.
It starts with a meeting with Actall staff to learn what your goals are, what’s working now, and to evaluate your existing capabilities. If your facility has had renovations or rooms repurposed since PALS 9000 was installed, or if there are new areas that need coverage, we’ll factor that into a new plan.
From that point, we’ll evaluate your facility’s PALS 9000 power infrastructure. Often, ATLAS can be installed using the existing infrastructure rather than pulling conduit or completely rewiring-a major cost savings.
Once we have an accurate understanding of your facility’s capabilities and current needs, our team will draw up a custom plan for installation and upgrading to ATLAS. We’ll be there every step of the way to determine tag options, ping rate-anything your facility requires to ensure safe and accurate tracking.
From there, we’ll tap our network of Actall integrators to manage the installation. We’ll work closely together every step of the way to make sure the project is completed to your satisfaction.
Ready to Learn More about Upgrading to ATLAS?
If you’re a PALS 9000 customer, you know that you’re more than a one-off agreement to us. We’re always here to answer questions and provide support. We’re happy to set up a no-strings-attached demo of ATLAS to see if the time is right for an upgrade.