QMedic
QMedic offers an affordable proactive medical alert service for elderly, blind and disabled consumers. There are many advantages to this system. They offer straightforward pricing, $25/month, with no contracts or cancellation fees. QMedic's technology is a little bit different because the bracelet and pendant systems include embedded sensor technology developed by MIT scientists. QMedic is one of the only pendant alert buttons that also provides information on a client's sleep and movement patterns throughout the day. This information is extremely helpful for care providers to keep tabs on loved ones. QMedic's sensor technology also will generate an alert if there is an extended period of inactivity or abnormal sleep patterns during the night. QMedic provides caregivers with 24/7 access to an activity dashboard that caregivers can use to monitor activity, sleep and compliance.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Transparent Business Model
- 24/7 Activity/Sleep Dashboard and family member notifications
- Simple, always-on waterproof bracelet/pendant—no battery recharge required
- 5-minute Installation of In-home Cellular or Landline Service
Transparent Business Model
One of the important things about QMedic is the transparent business model. Their Terms of Service are very thorough with no fine print that might make or break this purchase for a consumer. Here are some high points about QMedic:
- The 1000+ foot range of bracelet/pendant to the base station.
- A waterproof pendant/alert button (free replacement if lost or stolen).
- Free Ground Shipping across US on activation of monthly or annual subscriptions.
- 30-day no-risk money-back guarantee. No contracts, no refunds beyond 30 days.
- A thorough instruction manual.
- One of the easiest setup processes in the home alert industry (around 5 minutes).
- One of the best monitoring services in the industry (UL-listed call center).
QMedic has won several awards. Some of their startup funding was secured from the National Institutes of Health and they hold several patents for their 24/7 activity monitoring capabilities. This company has also received recognition from AARP and the Cleveland Clinic Future of Medicine Award.
24/7 Activity/Sleep Dashboard & Family Member Notifications
Another plus of this system is the fact that family members are instantly notified with text messages about periods of inactivity, poor sleep and wear compliance. Family members can also see activity data via QMedic’s online dashboard and mobile applications (currently available via Android).
Easy Installation
The ease of installation is very appealing. For the in-home cellular service, the client plugs in the base station and the unit is up and running.
For the landline service, the client simply plugs the base station into the power outlet and then connects into the phone line in like an answering machine. The system does not interfere with the phone line, unless the user activates the help button. Then, the base station "seizes" the phone line, getting an immediate connection with the monitoring center. False alerts do happen from time to time but QMedic makes it very easy to resolve a false alarm. QMedic's alert centers are geographically redundant, UL-Listed and CSAA Certified Five Diamond meaning that operators receive special training for how to respond to emergency alerts and are fully aware of how to correctly communicate with emergency services.
The Bad
- No Two-Way Voice Communication on Bracelet/Pendant
No Two-Way Voice Communication
One problem found was that the system does not feature two-way voice communication on the bracelet or pendant devices. Thus, the Client must communicate via the two-way speaker and microphone on the base station itself. The base station speaker/microphone are designed to capture voices throughout the home, but there is always a chance the Client may not hear the call center representatives if they are out of earshot. To minimize false alarms, QMedic’s call center always calls the phone number on file prior to dispatching emergency services.
The Bottom Line
The sensor technology integration into the waterproof pendant/alert button is a great fit for most customers. This technology can allow the monitoring center to conduct wellness checks throughout the day and surface issues even if the Client does not press the button. The pendant is waterproof, so the client can wear it in the shower or when they are outside. QMedic seems to have an innovative system that is affordable for elderly customers. The equipment, built off of sensor technology, offers maximum monitoring services and even will alert care services and/or family members when the client cannot push the help button. On the other hand, this service is hard to recommend to elderly customers with a busy travel schedule. If the customer is traveling, we recommend a mobile medical alert service with GPS from other vendors.
The system does not provide a whole lot in terms of personal mobility outside of the home, but in the home, it helps keep a person safe and secure.
