Palmetto Health Richland is the first hospital in South Carolina to implement new infant footprint system
March 15, 2017
Palmetto Health Richland is the first hospital in South Carolina to implement new infant footprint scan and photograph system. The Infant Safety System, developed by CertaScan Technologies, allows the hospital to capture high resolution newborn footprints which can be used for precise identification in situations like an abduction, lost baby or natural disaster.
The Infant Safety System — which uses live scan technology — gives parents the option to have their child’s footprint scanned and their photograph made immediately after birth. The mother’s index fingers also will be scanned and linked to her newborn. In the event of an abduction, missing child situation or other emergency, this allows for quicker, more efficient identification. The service is provided at no cost to the family.
“We believe this system delivers several benefits to new families,” said Felicia Wesley, nurse manager at Palmetto Health Richland Birthplace. “These measures give peace of mind to families and hospital staff, as well as putting Palmetto Health Richland in line with recommendations from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.”
The system is entirely safe for use on babies and provides outstanding footprint quality. The digital footprints and security photos can be stored efficiently in the newborn’s electronic medical record. And, much like fingerprints, footprints are a biometric, unique to each baby, so they can be used for identification throughout a lifetime.
The families will receive a certificate of the newborn’s footprint during their stay. The certificate will include the baby’s name, birth date and time, weight and height. Families also will have access to the certificate online and have the option to customize, download and print multiple copies.
For more information about Palmetto Health, visit PalmettoHealth.org.
About Palmetto Health
Palmetto Health, the largest health care system in the South Carolina Midlands region and one of the state’s largest employers, comprises more than 15,000 team members, physicians and volunteers working together to fulfill Palmetto Health’s Vision: To be remembered by each patient as providing the care and compassion we want for our families and ourselves. The system includes six acute-care hospitals in the Midlands—Palmetto Health Baptist, Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge, Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, Palmetto Health Heart Hospital, Palmetto Health Richland and Palmetto Health Tuomey. In the South Carolina Upstate region, Palmetto Health also co-owns Baptist Easley Hospital. Recognized nationally as one of the best places to work and receive care, the system also includes the Palmetto Health-USC Medical Group, the region’s largest multispecialty group, which serves as the entry point to the health care system with more than 500 providers serving patients in more than 80 practices and nearly 100 locations. Palmetto Health also is supported by two 501 (c)(3) foundations, and trains the next generation of physicians through its 24 residency and fellowship programs affiliated with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. For more information, visit PalmettoHealth.org or call 803-296-CARE (2273).
