GPS-cell phone link could help protect caseworkers

In several weeks, a Johnson County pilot project is expected to be launched to test a promising new technology that could better safeguard mental health caseworkers from violence, reports the Kansas City Star.

"Global positioning satellites coupled with mobile telephones could help prevent the death of caseworkers like Teri Lea Zenner, who was stabbed to death Aug. 17 at the home of a client with a history of mental health problems.

But GPS-enabled cell phones are only part of the solution, David Wiebe, director of the Johnson County Mental Health Center, told members of his governing board Tuesday night.

Better people skills — improved training and better internal controls — are equally critical, he said.

And although GPS looks promising, it still has some hurdles to overcome.

Global positioning does not always have pinpoint accuracy and may not work inside some buildings. Wireless signals can be spotty and vary between carriers.

The pilot project will look to combine two-way voice communication, global positioning and an instant connection feature in a single mobile phone, Wiebe said.

emily | 5:51 PM | Localisation |
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