Improving Dispatch Speeds: TMA invests in expanding ASAP digital dispatch service
For over a decade, The Monitoring Association (TMA), the trade association of the professional alarm monitoring industry, has led a public-private partnership—the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) service—that allows alarm monitoring providers (including PERS) to dispatch first responders electronically instead of by phone call.
Today, most alarm dispatches—to police, emergency medical services, or fire departments—are made by a monitoring agent making a phone call to the customer’s local 911 center.
Phone calls are slow, error-prone, and can add minutes to response times when seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Additionally, since COVID, 911 centers nationwide are understaffed, and it’s not uncommon for monitoring center agents to wait on hold for minutes until a 911 agent is free.
The ASAP service sends the information digitally directly into the 911 center’s software platform, eliminating the phone call and resulting in faster, more accurate dispatches. ASAP estimates that when their service is used, first responders reach those in need an average of two minutes faster.
What ChatGPT thinks about PERS
Like most people over the last few months, we’ve been playing around with ChatGPT.
For those who aren’t familiar, here’s a great rundown of what ChatGPT is, how you can access it, how much it costs, and what you can use it for.
We recently asked our new robot friend a few questions about the PERS industry.
Read on to find out what it said and how you can use similar prompts in your PERS business.
An interview with LogicMark CEO Chia-Lin Simmons
LogicMark’s ethos is simple: “To protect the personal experience of living life to the fullest.”
The PERS company, which was founded in 2005, has been an under-the-radar player for more than a decade. With a device contract with the United States Veteran’s Health Administration and business with dealers and distributors across the country, the company has turned its focus to remote activity monitoring and the care economy.
In 2021, Chia-Lin Simmons was appointed Chief Executive Officer. She brings more than 25 years of technology experience into the role, and PERS Insider was offered the exclusive opportunity to hear from Chia-Lin on a litany of topics, including LogicMark’s role within the PERS industry, her guiding leadership principles, and where she sees PERS heading in the next decade.
Celebrating 50 issues of PERS Insider!
It’s hard to believe, but we’re proud to be coming to your inbox this morning with our 50th issue of PERS Insider.
When we launched this newsletter in June 2020, we could never have imagined all of the industry-shifting stories we were going to report on or the thousands of PERS colleagues we would be connecting with.
We would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to celebrate this milestone and look back at five of our favorite stories of PERS devices in action (including a particularly “explosive” one) that we’ve covered over the last two years.
What PERS industry insiders have to say about Advocate Aurora Health’s acquisition of MobileHelp
When covering previous acquisitions in PERS Insider, we’ve heard whispers about sales, been anonymously tipped to possible buyers, and had inklings about timelines. But we’ll admit even we were surprised to hear about Advocate Aurora Health’s acquisition of PERS industry leader, MobileHelp.
This sale happened under the radar, so we reached out to industry experts, including one who has intimate knowledge of the deal, to find out how this industry-shifting transaction went down.
PERS Insider's Business Resolutions for 2022
While some people may have already fallen off the wagon with their personal New Year’s resolutions, we here at PERS Insider are ambitious, and we have some business-related resolutions that we suggest you keep in mind all year long:
PERS Insider Exclusive: Fall Detection—Where It’s Been and Where It’s Headed
Over the last year, PERS Insider has committed to covering one of the industry’s most talked-about (and often frustrating) technologies: fall detection.
We’ve highlighted patent advancements and new technology, we gave you a primer on fall detection, and even pointed out other industries that might benefit from it.
Suffice it to say, fall detection is one of the most important technologies in the PERS market. So to round out the year, we spoke to executives across the PERS industry to find out where fall detection has been, how PERS vendors are utilizing it today, and what to expect in the future.
Inside Climax: The PERS Insider Profile
Continuing with our PERS Insider Profile Series, we’re sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at companies and organizations that make up our industry.
This week, we’re highlighting the Taiwan-based Climax Technologies and diving into why it doesn’t consider itself a traditional PERS manufacturer.
PERS Industry Reacts to AARP Survey About Seniors and Tech
The days of senior citizens being overwhelmed by technology are over, and it's creating a new set of opportunities for PERS companies.
Click here to find out how several PERS industry leaders reacted to a recent AARP survey titled "2021 Tech Trends and the 50-Plus: Top 10 Biggest Trends."
“We’re not going to make it.” - John Brady, AICC Spokesman
MAMA & AICC Work Together to Lobby Government and AT&T For Delay in 3G Shutdown
In other MAMA news, as the only trade organization representing the needs of the medical alert monitoring and personal emergency response system industry, MAMA and the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) have joined forces to formally appeal to Congress and AT&T through a petition filed with the FCC for a delay to AT&T’s planned 3G shutdown date – which is currently planned for February 2022.
In a showdown that’s been ongoing for over a year, AT&T is not backing down from its decision to move forward with the shutdown of its 3G network to make room for more 4G LTE and 5G devices.
Click here to learn how MAMA’s work on this issue will impact you and the PERS industry.
Inside Mytrex: The PERS Insider Profile
Continuing with our PERS Insider Profile Series, we’re sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at companies and organizations that make up our industry.
This week, we shine the spotlight on the South Jordan, Utah-based PERS manufacturer Mytrex.
The Most Popular PERS Insider Stories
On June 9, 2020, we launched the first issue of PERS Insider.
26 issues later, we’ve been blown away by the industry response to the first-ever publication devoted specifically to and for the PERS industry.
Over the last year, we’ve covered everything from the Connect America Philips Lifeline acquisition and the 3G network sunset to COVID-19’s long-term impact on our industry.
We’re proud to be in your inboxes twice a month, and as we celebrate our first anniversary, let’s take a look back at our most popular stories of the year.
By the way, if you know people who would find PERS Insider helpful, send them here to subscribe.
PERS Industry Reacts to Connect America’s Acquisition of Lifeline
Following up on this month’s industry-shaking news of Connect America acquiring Philips Lifeline, we’ve been flooded with comments and analysis about the deal.
Hear how industry insiders reacted to one of the “biggest deals in PERS history.”
Connect America Seals The Deal To Acquire Philips Lifeline
Last week, there was a seismic shift in the PERS industry.
After months of speculation, Connect America officially announced it would acquire the Lifeline PERS business from Philips.
Check out our deep dive into industry reactions and a historical perspective on each company that foreshadowed the groundbreaking deal.
5 Takeaways from the "Executing the 4G Transition" MAMA Webinar
On March 10, industry insiders joined together for MAMA’s webinar “Executing the 4G Transition,” hosted by MAMA’s President Daniel Oppenheim, the CEO of Affiliated Monitoring, and featuring MAMA Board Members Rob Flippo, the CEO of MobileHelp, and Jason Anderson the CEO of VRI.
MAMA opened attendance to the broader industry and not just MAMA members due to the importance and timeliness of the topic and the industry’s desire to support each other on the issues surrounding the 3G to 4G transition.
Click here to check out a short clip of the webinar and find PERS Insider’s 5 top takeaways from the conversation.
Inside Essence: The PERS Insider Profile
Welcome to the new PERS Insider series “The PERS Insider Profile,” where we will be sharing exclusive, behind-the-scenes looks at leading organizations across our industry. We’ll focus on the nuts and bolts of the company and hear from leadership in their own words.
Up first, we take a look inside the Israeli-based PERS manufacturer Essence, where VP Josh Locke has a lot to say about the company’s plans.
Up first, we take a look inside the Israeli-based PERS manufacturer Essence, where VP Josh Locke has a lot to say about the company’s plans.
Brighton Taps Industry Sales Expert: Jennifer Solsten
In an ongoing series for PERS Insiders, we’re aiming to profile leaders within our space, how they got here, and where they see the PERS industry heading in the future.
Fresh off the news of her joining the sales team of wholesale mPERS provider Brighton Solutions, we sat down with Jennifer Solsten. Read our exclusive profile where we discuss her career in PERS, her first impressions of her new company, and her take on where the PERS industry is going.
Fresh off the news of her joining the sales team of wholesale mPERS provider Brighton Solutions, we sat down with Jennifer Solsten. Read our exclusive profile where we discuss her career in PERS, her first impressions of her new company, and her take on where the PERS industry is going.
Behind the Scenes of MedScope's New CIBC Credit Facility
You won’t find many interviews or conference appearances by the leaders of MedScope, so when co-founder Greg Smith agreed to exclusively sit down with PERS Insider, we jumped at the chance.
Click through to learn about MedScope and what Smith thinks is next for his company and our industry after recently working with Henry Edmonds to obtain a credit facility with long-time PERS industry lender CIBC.
Click through to learn about MedScope and what Smith thinks is next for his company and our industry after recently working with Henry Edmonds to obtain a credit facility with long-time PERS industry lender CIBC.
How Supply Chain Problems Are Impacting The PERS Industry
Do you remember, not too long ago, when finding toilet paper or paper towels at the local superstore made you feel like a lottery winner?
Do you remember, not too long ago, when finding toilet paper or paper towels at the local superstore made you feel like a lottery winner?
While COVID-related supply chain issues have subsided for some industries, disruptions in the PERS industry persist.
What exactly is going on with the supply chain? Why unprecedented demand from the 4G conversion is causing additional strain. When will it all end? PERS Insider spoke with executives on the front lines and has the answers.
The Anatomy of a Deal: How Medical Guardian Got Comfortable with Private Equity and Picked Water Street
“Our best days are ahead of us.” - Geoff Gross, CEO, Medical Guardian
In early 2020 it looked like Geoff Gross could take a pause. Having just closed a credit refinancing deal, he could take a breather before using the fresh capital to lead his PERS company Medical Guardian, which he founded in 2005, to new heights. Little did he know that the breather would be short-lived.
Exactly one year later, Medical Guardian announced it obtained a growth investment from Water Street, a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry.
It’s a big deal by any standard, but what makes the timing even more remarkable is that it was done in the shadow of a global pandemic and the resulting economic disarray.
So how exactly did this deal come together, what did each company see in the other to take on the partnership, and what opportunities are they exploring as the PERS industry finds itself on the cusp of a new age? PERS Insider spoke exclusively with multiple players in the transaction.
2020 has been...not what we expected.
But the giant pandemic elephant in the room has presented an opportunity for the industry.
Here's our take on the five biggest PERS stories of the year.
But the giant pandemic elephant in the room has presented an opportunity for the industry.
Here's our take on the five biggest PERS stories of the year.
EXCLUSIVE: CONNECT AMERICA'S NEW CEO JANET DILLIONE WON'T LET A PANDEMIC STOP HER
Janet Dillione has a plan. She’s famous for them.
But the new Connect America CEO has never had to implement one of those plans – for such a big role – during a pandemic.
Learning the players, the company culture, and the industry, all through Zoom meetings is a challenging way to start out as the new boss.
Janet Dillione has a plan. She’s famous for them.
But the new Connect America CEO has never had to implement one of those plans – for such a big role – during a pandemic.
Learning the players, the company culture, and the industry, all through Zoom meetings is a challenging way to start out as the new boss.
With The 3G Sunset Looming, MAMA Joins Alarm Industry Communications Committee
The Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA), the PERS Industry trade association, officially joined the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) this past month.
An ambassador to the FCC and telecom companies for the security monitoring industry, the AICC has been around since the late 1960’s. It follows developments at the federal level, and assists in making sure the industry’s voice is heard during the legislative process.
“As our industry grows, we need eyes and ears on Capitol Hill and in the halls of the major telecom companies. AICC has been building relationships and fighting for its members for more than 50 years,” says Daniel Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring and current President of MAMA.
AICC chair, Louis Fiore, is thrilled to have MAMA join the ranks, “We’re delighted. I think the PERS market is closely aligned to the security market. And this just gives us a much better, much greater reach.”
With the Covid pandemic disrupting many companies' 3G to 4G transition plans, Fiore and the AICC have been busy the past several months working on behalf of its more than 44 member companies and organizations to delay AT&T's 3G sunset date that is set to go into effect in February 2022.
The Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA), the PERS Industry trade association, officially joined the Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) this past month.
An ambassador to the FCC and telecom companies for the security monitoring industry, the AICC has been around since the late 1960’s. It follows developments at the federal level, and assists in making sure the industry’s voice is heard during the legislative process.
“As our industry grows, we need eyes and ears on Capitol Hill and in the halls of the major telecom companies. AICC has been building relationships and fighting for its members for more than 50 years,” says Daniel Oppenheim, CEO of Affiliated Monitoring and current President of MAMA.
AICC chair, Louis Fiore, is thrilled to have MAMA join the ranks, “We’re delighted. I think the PERS market is closely aligned to the security market. And this just gives us a much better, much greater reach.”
With the Covid pandemic disrupting many companies' 3G to 4G transition plans, Fiore and the AICC have been busy the past several months working on behalf of its more than 44 member companies and organizations to delay AT&T's 3G sunset date that is set to go into effect in February 2022.
Seven Things You Need To Know To Execute the 4G Transition
Back in August we asked PERS Insiders to tell us when they were planning on completing their 3G to 4G migration: 75% of you said you’re aiming for the first half of 2021, while the other 25% are looking to complete it during the second half of next year.
At the MAMA annual conference in September we heard from three industry experts who discussed the 3G sunset and shared advice on the transition including best practices and potential risks.
Here are the seven things you need to know to execute your 4G transition.
Back in August we asked PERS Insiders to tell us when they were planning on completing their 3G to 4G migration: 75% of you said you’re aiming for the first half of 2021, while the other 25% are looking to complete it during the second half of next year.
At the MAMA annual conference in September we heard from three industry experts who discussed the 3G sunset and shared advice on the transition including best practices and potential risks.
Here are the seven things you need to know to execute your 4G transition.
The Best Software Tools to Run Your PERS Company
In a recent PERS Insider survey we asked readers what software you use to manage your customers and run your business. The answers were across the board and there seems to be no dominant platform in the PERS space.
A few contenders popped up including EZpers, Hubspot, Salesforce, and Brightree so we decided to do a deep dive into this question and spoke with a few industry vets about the CRM systems they use for their businesses. We asked about some of their favorite features, and profiled what types of PERS companies might benefit from using a similar system.
Industry Reacts to Lifeline’s “For Sale” Sign
“Philips knows it never did a good job with its acquisition of Lifeline.” - Laurie Orlov
There was no holding back when we asked industry insiders to weigh in on the recent news that Philips is putting its Lifeline PERS business up for sale.
In our deeply reported follow-up story to the breaking news in our last issue, we discuss the Lifeline sale and gather predictions from industry experts on what the potential sale means.
The MAMA / Edmonds PERS Market Study: Why it Matters
“All mature industries, without exception, rely on this kind of data.” - Henry Edmonds
PERS Insider has an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pull off the massive annual MAMA PERS Industry Survey.
Ahead of his appearance at this year’s MAMA Conference, we sat down with Henry Edmonds, President of The Edmonds Group, to talk this year’s PERS market survey and cover questions including how the survey was born, how it’s helped companies across the PERS industry, why PERS companies participate, and how he hopes to see the market study grow.
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