UCHealth's Workplace Violence Initiative

As part of our commitment to providing a safe and secure work environment, our team is launching a new Computer Panic Button and Mobile Safety App. We have worked diligently to incorporate these new technologies into our safety plan in direct response to your recent Employee Voice survey feedback. We continue to listen and take action to protect you and our patients.

UCHealth Safety Tools

We are excited to announce that we have acquired Computer Panic Buttons and a Mobile Safety App powered by 911Cellular. These new safety tools will ensure we continue creating an environment where our wonderful staff and patients feel safe both providing and receiving next-level care.

Our new software will roll out across the system in waves, starting with Computer Panic Buttons on March 11, 2025, for employees of the Aurora Mississippi Emergency Department and UCHealth AF Williams Family Medicine Clinic - Central Park. The software will continue to roll out at other sites throughout the system in the coming months. Look for more communication regarding the timeline.

Computer Panic Buttons

The Computer Panic Button is a software application designed to enhance safety in the workplace. It lets users quickly and discretely notify security personnel during an emergency with a simple keystroke or mouse click.

To ensure you are always prepared to respond to an incident, the Computer Panic Button software must run continuously in the background. You can check if it is active by locating the 911Cellular icon, represented as 911, in the top right-hand corner of the screen on Macs and the bottom right-hand corner on PCs. The icon may be hidden on PCs. If you don’t see it, click the upward arrow to reveal it.

If, for some reason, the software is not running, you can easily open it like any other application on your computer. Familiarizing yourself with the Computer Panic Button will help ensure a quick response during emergencies, contributing to a safer workplace environment for everyone.

Training Videos

Mobile Safety App

Learn how to download, set up, and use the mobile safety app to help you stay safe and informed. This video explains the app’s key features so you can use it with confidence.

Computer Panic Button

Learn how to use the Computer Panic Button to quickly send an emergency alert right from your desktop. This video shows you how to activate it using your hot keys and how to choose an incident type to make sure the right team gets the right information fast.

Key Features of the Computer Panic Button

Quick and Easy Activation

On a Mac, you can press and hold the Option key, followed by the Delete key or click the 911 icon in your taskbar and select “initiate panic” to signal for help. On a PC, you can initiate a panic by pressing and holding the Alt key, followed by the Backspace key or double-clicking the 911 icon in your taskbar.

Immediate Notification

Once activated, the system sends real-time notifications to designated security personnel, managers and relevant authorities, ensuring that help is on the way without delay.

Location Identification

Once internet access points throughout our facility are mapped, the software will pinpoint the origin of duress signals with up to the floor, room number and desk-level accuracy. Emergency responders receive this information and your name to ensure they can reach you as quickly as possible.

Confidentiality and Privacy

The software only tracks your location after sending emergency responders a duress signal. It will never passively track you. All information collected is shared solely with authorized personnel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I trigger an alert?

It depends if you are on a Mac or PC.

On a Mac, you can press and hold the Option key, followed by the Delete key or click the 911 icon in your taskbar and select initiate panic to signal for help.

On a PC, you can initiate a panic by pressing and holding the Alt key, followed by the Backspace key or double-clicking the 911 icon in your taskbar.

Can I cancel an accidental trigger?

Yes.

After initiating a panic alert, you will see a pop-up window with a 3-second countdown. During that time, you can cancel an alert to prevent emergency responders from being notified.

What happens if I accidentally trigger an alert?

All management, security and external emergency agencies will respond.

It is crucial to remember that this system is live and monitored 24/7. All teams will respond to any panic alert that comes through the system.

Can I trigger an alert from home?

No.

Our software is configured to recognize when individuals are off the UCHealth campus. If you attempt to trigger an alert from home, the software will instruct you to call 911.

What information can emergency responders view?

Your name and location.

For now, our system will send emergency responders your name and location. We may incorporate video and audio streaming in the future, allowing first responders to view the situation in real-time. This will help ensure responses are efficient and effective.