Learn how to view, set up, & subscribe to exit monitor zones within the Healthcare portal.
To detect accidental asset loss and protect data integrity, the RTLS provides the ability to alert key employees when an asset is within range of leaving a specific zone via the use of exit monitors. These exit monitors are set up through zone creation and monitored through zone subscriptions. Signaled exit alarms can be seen on the Dashboard and under system events.
Exit monitor zones are created by the Cognosos Installation Team when your system zones are created. Your implementation team will work with you to create the exit zones based on best practices and your needs and consult with you on naming the zones for your facility.
Viewing Exit Monitor Zones
Open the map and choose the Exits tab on the left menu to display all zones that have been defined as an Exit Monitor during zone set up. (Alternatively, go to My Site Zones and search on "exit" to locate the exit zones; the proper naming convention must be followed for this method to work.)
The location of the exit monitor zone coincides with specific areas of the building that signal when an asset is in jeopardy of leaving an assigned area or the building at large.
Exit monitor zones display a warning icon on the map when there is at least one asset located in that zone. Click the exit zone on the Exits tab or the icon on the map to display the exit zone information on the right and highlight the zone on the map.
If a zone is supposed to be an exit zone and is not showing on the Exits tab, ensure the zone is defined as an Exit zone in Zone Settings.
Setting Up Exit Monitor Zones
Exit monitor zones are generally created by the Cognosos Installation Team when your system zones are created. Your implementation team will work with you to create the exit zones based on best practices and your needs and consult with you on naming the zones for your facility.
Note: Exit monitors alone will not prevent assets from leaving your facility or prevent loss of assets. They are a tool to enable your staff to detect if an asset is in an exit zone and can help you see patterns of assets that are egressing from areas like laundry, trash, or exits to allow you to recover assets or plan strategies to prevent future loss.
The key to successfully monitoring exit zones is the naming convention. When exit monitor zones are named, use a naming convention that easily identifies the location, as well as that the zone is an exit monitor zone, e.g., FL 6 Admitting lobby Exit Monitor. A consistent naming convention ensures that the exit monitor zones are quickly identifiable for setting up subscriptions and viewing events.
When you have exit monitors installed in your facility, it’s important to avoid storing tagged equipment in an exit monitor zone (within 7-10 feet) to avoid false alerts.
To change a zone to an exit monitor, locate the zone either on the map or in My Site Zones.
Choose the Edit icon from the map; mark and select the Edit icon from My Site.
Ensure that the Exit Monitor checkbox is selected to signal to the RTLS that this is an exit zone. Otherwise, make another selection or leave set to None of the above.
Creating Exit Monitor Subscriptions
In order to receive exit monitor alerts, you will set up a subscription for each exit monitor zone for which you want alerts. Subscriptions for exit monitors are treated like any zone subscription. You can set up the subscription from the map or My Site.
Users may subscribe to an exit zone directly from the map. Pull up the appropriate exit zone on the left to display the information on the right. Within the right menu, select the bell icon to open the subscriptions window. Input the time of day and day(s) of week for the subscription to run and the delivery method(s) for receiving alerts. Exit monitor subscriptions are handled the same as all subscriptions.
From the Zones tab in My Site select the exit monitor zone for which you’d like to set up the subscription and select Subscribe. The button will remain grayed out if there are zero or more than one zone selected.
In both cases, input the time range to monitor the exit zone and the delivery medium for the alert. Save the subscription when input is complete.
Exit monitor zones are no different than actual zones set up in the RTLS portal. The process for setting up, managing, and monitoring exit monitor zones is the same regardless as other zones; the key difference is the naming convention of the zones.