Home Showcase: Brighton condos 
offer sneak peek

Across from the Green Line in Brighton, on a hill where a nursing home once stood, a new condominium complex is sprouting up in its place that will have 55 units priced between $400,000 and $800,000 when it opens late this summer.

"We're really excited about bringing it to market at this price point," said Michael DiMella of Charlesgate Realty Group in Boston. "It's a spectacularly designed building that's going to be a signature piece of architecture on Commonwealth Avenue."

Although it's difficult to imagine now with men in hard hats at work and Tyvek covering its facade, The Lancaster is designed in the English Jacobean style and, once completed, will have 40 two-bedroom, 13 one-bedroom and two three-bedroom condos.

The two-bedroom, two-bath model unit that's now open for viewing is 1,057 square feet and priced at $605,000, with a washer and dryer discreetly tucked in a closet facing the front door and one bathroom with a glass brick mosaic back-splash off to the right.

The unit has an open layout, with a kitchen that has the same style backsplash, Bosch appliances, countertops in your choice of light or dark granite, and Shaker-
style cabinets in either natural maple or espresso-colored wood.

The living area has hardwood floors in your choice of walnut or natural oak and enough space for a small dining area. It opens to a spacious patio.

To the left of the living area is the master bedroom, which has a walk-in closet, another smaller closet and a bathroom with a double vanity. To the right of the living area is the second bedroom, which can also be used as an office. Both bedrooms have taupe-
colored carpeting.

The five-story building's common areas will include a main foyer and elevator lobby, as well as a library that will open to a courtyard patio with a grill for resident gatherings and private parties.

The building also will have a fitness room and yoga studio, and a heated garage that will accommodate 55 vehicles and bicycle storage. One parking space is included in the price of each unit.

Home Showcase
• Address: 1501 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton
• Bedrooms: Two
• Bathrooms: Two
• List price: $605,000
• Square feet: 1,057
• Price per square foot: $572
• Annual taxes: about $4,500 if the unit is owner-occupied
• Fee: $400
• Location: Across from the Green Line and minutes from a Whole Foods
• Built: In 2015
• Broker: P.T. Vineburgh of Charlesgate Realty Group at (857) 383-3111

Pros:

• Central heating and air
• Patio, fitness room and yoga studio
• Heated garage
• Pets allowed

Cons:

• Building won't be completed until August

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Car Smart: Off-road combines with luxury

The Land Rover Discovery's boxy and utilitarian appearance of the 1990s has evolved into a sleek and versatile compact SUV, but despite its refined metamorphosis, the 2015 Discovery Sport still packs enough off-road capability to handle just about any New England driving condition.

The Discovery Sport's exterior blends a clamshell nose and a streamlined profile with a rugged stance emphasized by a generous amount of fender clearance over 19-inch wheels. My tester was painted in metallic gray with brightly polished stainless steel front and rear shields that protect the Land Rover's underside.

The Discovery Sport is offered in three trim levels. The well-equipped base level SE starts at $37,000, while the $41,570 HSE model that I tested features a panoramic roof, full leather seats and a power tailgate. The top-shelf HSE Lux at $45,570 adds premium leather, an 11-speaker sound system and adjustable mood lighting.

The Discovery Sport shares the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine as Land Rover's smaller Evoque subcompact SUV that I reviewed late last year. The four-cylinder engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission churns out 240 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. Steering-wheel mounted paddles allowed for manual shifting. My tester did 20 mpg in the city, and 26 on the highway.

Despite occasional turbo lag that resulted in delayed acceleration from a dead start, the Discovery Sport was easy and responsive to drive.

Tightly spaced gear ratios from the nine-speed transmission provided smooth overall acceleration and seamless downshifts. It was agile through the corners thanks in part to an all-new multilink rear axle and electronic power-assisted steering.

As expected, the Land Rover was remarkably quiet on the highway. The Discovery Sport can be switched from two-wheel to four-wheel-drive with the touch of a button on the center console. Additionally, Land Rover's Terrain Response system allows drivers to select four-wheel-drive modes to tailor the Discovery Sport's response to various conditions.

The Discovery Sport's well designed interior maximized space with ample visibility. Power adjustable front seats and a telescopic steering wheel made it easy to dial in a comfortable driving position. Second-row seats that comfortably fit three adults with ample head- and footroom were set two inches higher than the front to create a stadium-like view from the backseats. A third-row seating option boosts the Land Rover's passenger capacity to seven.

A push-button start, rotary knob transmission shifter and an electronic parking brake highlight the Discovery Sport's dashboard. Large buttons surrounding an 8-inch touchscreen help to reduce drilling down through multiple menus to access navigation, pair cellphones and tune the radio.

While the Discovery Sport yields to the competition when comparing performance and fuel economy, the Land Rover certainly compensates with outstanding all-terrain capability and overall luxury. Other compact luxury SUVs to consider are the Audi Q5, BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLK.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prep Charter plans to build new $24.5M school

Boston Preparatory Charter Public School has filed formal plans with the city to build a permanent school in Hyde Park for an estimated $24.5 million.

The college preparatory middle and high school, which has been leasing the former Most Precious Blood parochial school in Hyde Park since its 2004 founding, plans a three-story, approximately 48,000-square-foot school about a mile away at 875 River St., across from the Shops at Riverwood plaza.

"The new building will provide many program areas and design features that BPCPS does not have in its current leased facility, including dedicated science labs, a library, small-group instructional spaces, a gym, cafeteria, outdoor athletic space and seamless technology integration," according to plans filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The school, which accepts students in grades 6 through 12 through a public lottery, has about 400 enrolled, primarily low-income minority youths from Hyde Park, Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury.

It is raising equity through a capital campaign and plans to finance the rest of the privately funded project through a bank, according to executive director Sharon Liszanckie.

"All public charter schools get a per-pupil rate (of funding from the Department of Education) ... and we get a small allocation for facilities spending, but we don't get any money at all to support the building and construction," she said.

Another Boston charter school, the 17-year-old music-oriented Conservatory Lab Charter School, also has plans for a new school in Roxbury that would replace two temporary locations in Brighton and Dorchester for about 450 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Parking fines go up for game days

Beginning Monday on Opening Day, people who park in resident-only spaces in the neighborhoods around Fenway Park during Red Sox games will have to pay more than double the usual fine.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday signed an ordinance — passed by the City Council Wednesday — that will pilot increasing the fine from $40 to $100 to discourage game attendees who don't live in those neighborhoods from parking in resident-only zones.

"This ordinance is a great step forward for residents of the Fenway, Kenmore Square and Audubon Circle," said City Councilor Josh Zakim, who sponsored the ordinance. "These changes will help restore the parking balance in the neighborhoods around Fenway Park during some of the busiest months of the year."

The increase in fines will take effect two hours before any Major League game at Fenway Park and extend to two hours after the game. Fines also may be hiked during other Fenway Park events on a case-by-case basis.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asian shares mixed; Hong Kong, Japan benchmarks surge

TOKYO — Asian shares were mixed Thursday, with gains supported by lower oil prices, firmness in U.S. markets and strong buying in Hong Kong by mainland Chinese investors.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's Nikkei 225 stock index rose 0.7 percent to 19,917.47, tapping fresh 15-year highs as the Japanese yen softened against the U.S. dollar. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index jumped 2.2 percent to 26,811.02, breaching seven-year highs. South Korea's Kospi was almost flat, at 2,058.76, while Australia's S&P ASX/200 slipped 0.4 percent to 5,938.10. Shares in Southeast Asia were mixed, while China's Shanghai Composite fell 1.2 percent to 3,947.16.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong shares rose after mainland Chinese investors bought heavily, pushing the benchmark up 6.3 percent before it lost some ground on profit-taking. Chinese are shifting investments into Hong Kong, which is seen as a bargain following rallies in mainland Chinese markets that have made shares in Shanghai and Shenzhen relatively expensive.

THE QUOTE: "Money came flooding into Hong Kong's stock market Wednesday, and the market took flight trading at its highest since 2008 and setting record trading volumes," Stephen Innes, senior trader for OANDA Asia Pacific, said in a commentary.

GLOBAL DEALMAKING: Shares in health care stocks and energy companies rose after major deals were announced Wednesday, including an agreement by oil company Royal Dutch Shell to buy BG Group for $69.7 billion in cash and stock. A revival of major acquisitions has yielded almost $1 trillion in deals this year, according to data provider Dealogic, boosting shares.

WALL STREET: U.S. shares posted modest gains Wednesday as investors awaited company earnings and puzzled over the likely timing of a future interest rate hike, following the release of minutes from the latest meeting of the Federal Reserve. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 5.57 points, or 0.3 percent, at 2,081.90. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 27.09 points at 17,902.51.

ENERGY: Oil fell nearly 7 percent on Wednesday, its biggest drop in two months, after the Energy Department reported oil in storage was about triple what analysts had estimated. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 64 cents to $51.06 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It lost $3.56 to close at $50.42 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, gained 67 cents to $57.36 after falling $3.55 overnight to close at $55.55 in London.

CURRENCIES: The euro was trading at $1.0776 versus $1.07797 on Wednesday. The dollar rose to 120.33 yen from its previous close of 120.15.

12.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

State to streamline Rx medical marijuana pipeline

Medical marijuana companies yesterday welcomed the news that state health officials plan to streamline the way they issue dispensary licenses to prevent delays in treatment for those who qualify for it.

"Anything that can be done to facilitate getting medication to patients is something I'd support," said Dr. James Kurnick, a cancer researcher and CEO of Mass Medicum Corp., which received a provisional license in November to open a dispensary in Taunton and a cultivation site in Holbrook.

Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel yesterday said the licensing system has been "a confusing, overly lengthy process that has delayed appropriate patients from getting access" to medically needed marijuana — a sentiment Kurnick shares.

Under the new process, dispensaries will be licensed in a format similar to pharmacies and other health care facilities, Bharel said. The process, which will formally launch May 15, will set high safety and suitability standards for dispensaries to meet, particularly when it comes to security and background checks, she added.

"This change will create a more efficient, market-driven licensure process that allows the commonwealth to maintain the highest standards of both public safety and accessibility," Bharel said in a statement.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

12.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Booting Up: Not-so-instant message:
App saves best for later

A new mobile app promises to allow anyone to send text, video and voice messages up to 25 years into the future, 
offering new, boundless communication potential — in life and after death.

Incubate, a new app for iOS, is a time capsule for sentiment. Imagine hearing your grandmother wish you a Merry Christmas years 
after she's gone. Or on your 21st birthday, a video of your parents finding out they were having you, a new baby boy. Or on your 50th wedding anniversary, receiving a video message from the spouse who didn't live long enough to share it with you.

Users can sign up for 
Incubate with a Facebook account or email address. They'll see the number of messages waiting for them in the future. But they won't know when the messages are coming or who has sent them.

"We've been blown away with the creative ways people have thought about using the app," said app founder Michael McCluney, a serial
entrepreneur based in 
Atlanta. "Some are comical, but some are extremely emotional. The range and possibilities are really limitless."

In fact, the app was 
inspired by one of those funnier possibilities: McCluney's friend had newborn triplets, and months of nearly zero sleep took a toll, resulting in obscenity-laced outbursts in the middle of those sleepless nights. McCluney suggested his friend record his own 
tirade and then send it to the kids — as a joke — in a future voicemail.

Recipients must own the Incubate app — or some future version of it — in order to receive the future message. A feature called The Nursery allows parents to create an account for their kids, and catalogue their lives as they grow.

But how to guarantee that 



Incubate, which is close to 
securing $500,000 in seed funding, even exists in 25 years? McCluney says his team believes that because users see the number of messages waiting for them, there's a natural need to hold onto them that will keep Incubate alive. And he says the desire to receive and send messages will always exist and therefore secure 
Incubate's long-term chances.

McCluney expects weddings to be a big draw, and is working on a way for guests to send messages to the bride and groom on their future anniversaries.

Incubate provides a great way to punk your friends, according to McCluney, who on a recent group outing decided that everyone would send a message to com- memorate the one-year anniversary of a friend refusing to do shots: "I want everyone to remember that on this day, 
so-and-so was a wuss."

And that's where things get weird. We all know about
drunk-dialing, but what about "drinkubating?" Would your adult self want to 
receive messages from some drunken college buddy who you haven't thought of in 
decades?

There's no way to know. But I think we're about to find out.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asian stocks mostly higher, Japan central bank keeps policy

TOKYO — Asian stocks were mostly higher Wednesday after Japan's central bank maintained its expansively easy monetary policy.

KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.8 percent to 19,810.38 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.3 percent at 5,944.60. Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 2.4 percent to 25,877.70 after a five-day long weekend. South Korea's Kospi added 0.5 percent to 2,057.70. Markets in Southeast Asia were mixed while benchmarks in Shanghai and India rose.

BANK OF JAPAN: The Bank of Japan maintained its policy of super-easy lending, which had been expected. Japan is trying to escape two decades of economic stagnation and deflation by massively expanding the supply of money in the world's No. 3 economy. Japan's main index had risen in anticipation that accommodative monetary policy would be maintained and held its gains after the decision was announced.

THE QUOTE: The aggressive monetary stimulus program in Japan has "provided a compelling backdrop for strong Japanese stock performance," said analyst Nicholas Teo at CMC Markets in Singapore. "Japanese equities have had a tough twenty years mostly languishing in the backseat," he said. "The Nikkei at around the 20,000 level now, is barely half of where it was in the early 1990s."

WALL STREET: The Dow Jones industrial average lost 5.43 points, or 0.03 percent, to 17,875.42 on Tuesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 4.29 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,076.33. The Nasdaq composite lost 7.08 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,910.23.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude was down $1.06 at $52.92 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract jumped $1.84, or 3.5 percent, to close at $53.98 a barrel in New York on Tuesday. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, was down 83 cents at $58.27 a barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 120.10 yen from 120.30 yen Tuesday. The euro rose to $1.0839 from $1.0823.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Business Protocol: In the office, just say ‘no’ to being like Joe Biden

Don't be the office Joe Biden.

Too much touching can land you in the human resources office faster than you can say, "Give me a hug."

The trend of having more open workspaces with big kitchens, free food and lots of "team spirit" doesn't mean you can intrude on personal space.

Colleagues still need their comfort zones. Biden felt the heat recently for getting too close to Stephanie Carter, the wife of Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. Nuzzling her neck from behind while grabbing her shoulders was, well, invading her space.

Comfort zones change from country to country, culture to culture, and there are different office cultures. For example, a Silicon Valley startup might encourage lighthearted casual physical contact versus a more professional setting in, say, a buttoned-down investment firm.

Generally speaking, we here in the U.S. prefer one arm's length distance for our comfort zone, while those in England prefer more like two arms' lengths of distance, and those in Asia and Arab countries prefer more like three arm's lengths of distance for their comfort zone. Latin countries prefer more like 3 inches. (American businesswomen: Please be aware of this. It's just their way.)

Remember, the all-embracing goal in business is to get to know, like and then trust. You need to earn the right to cross that line to kiss, hug and embrace and (technically) violate unspoken boundaries of personal space.

Be careful, as some advances are unwanted, and sexual harassment issues are real. Be conscious of this and condition yourself to read body language before it's too late.

If the action is already underway, go with it — you can't really push them away. Also, especially go with it after a big project completion, huge sale, a major life announcement or a personal loss.

Here's how to avoid unwanted intimacy:

• Take Control. Extend a rigid handshake to keep someone at arm's length.

• Just say you're not a touchy person.

• Maintain a barrier — a desk, even a portfolio — until the moment passes.

If you must, here's how to embrace, safely:

• Ask for a "big hug" and just give a warm squeeze.

•   Don't close your eyes.

•   Don't hug from behind.

Just ask Joe Biden how breaking that rule went.

Judith Bowman is president and founder of Protocol Consultants International and author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New rules of Business Etiquette" and "How to Stand Apart @ Work … Transforming 'Fine' to Fabulous!" Email her at Judith
@protocolconsultants.com.

12.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asia stocks gain after Fed official signals slow rate rises

BEIJING — Asian stocks rose Tuesday after Wall Street gained on a jump in crude prices and expectations the Federal Reserve will put off an interest rate hike until late in the year.

KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.8 percent to 3,933.49 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 added 1.3 percent to 19,653.15. Taipei, Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok also rose. Seoul's Kospi was steady at 2,047.11 while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 1.1 percent to 5,961.10. Hong Kong was closed for a holiday.

U.S. ECONOMY: U.S. investors were reassured by a comment from William Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve's New York branch, that rate increases will be "shallow." That helped to buoy sentiment that was dented by Friday's weak employment numbers.

ANALYST'S TAKE: Dudley's comment that a negative reaction by stock markets to an interest rate hike would "slow us down" was confirmation the Fed has used monetary policy to create a "wealth effect," said Evan Lucas of IG Markets in a report. "It's a simple idea: make people feel wealthier and they will consume more," Lucas said. "It is why the market is pricing in an October move and why most now believe, as Mr Dudley himself stated, that the rate rise will be shallow."

WALL STREET: A jump in the price of U.S. crude set off a rally in energy stocks. Transocean, an operator of drilling rigs, soared 10 percent. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 13.66 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 2,080.62. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 117.61 points, or 0.7 percent, to 17,880.85, and the Nasdaq composite rose 30.38 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,917.32.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude sank 35 cents to $51.79 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained $1 on Monday to close at $52.14. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 57 cents to $57.55 per barrel in London after soaring $3.17 on Monday to $58.12.

CURRENCY: The dollar gained to 119.64 yen from Monday's 119.48 yen. The euro edged up to $1.0941 from the previous session's $1.0937.

12.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pension board eyes diversity stipulation

The state's pension board is considering a plan to use its shareholder muscle to press companies to include more women and racial minorities on corporate boards. A board vote on the plan is expected in Boston tomorrow.

A committee of the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board oversees the state's $61 billion pension fund and has recommended the board adopt the guidelines. Under them, the board would use its shareholder status in a company to vote against all corporate board nominees unless at least a quarter of them are women and racial minorities.

The rule was proposed by Democratic state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who chairs the nine-member board. The group's administration committee unanimously backed the policy last month.

It also seeks to use the board's proxy voting to push companies to adopt wage equality, renewable energy and human rights standards.

Additional items on the board's agenda tomorrow includes new committee members, a report from executive director Michael Trotsky, an investment report, an audit and tax services recommendation, a draft fiscal 2016 operating budget, and updates on legal and legislative matters, travel and staff development.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Seth Moulton urges rollback of Obamacare device tax

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is joining the push to repeal the Obamacare tax on medical devices today, claiming it's a hit to small startups trying to develop the next big thing.

"So much of our innovation and new medical devices come from startups and small companies, the last thing we want to do is hurt them most," Moulton (D-
Marblehead) told the Herald. "It's important and it's the kind of innovative industry that will only grow in the future, it's the kind of innovative industry that we want to support and encourage."

The tax, implemented as part of Obamacare, levies a 2.3-percent excise tax on medical device revenue, regardless of whether the company is profitable or not. There are more than 400 medical device companies in Massachusetts with nearly 23,000 workers, Moulton's office said — many of them in his North Shore district. The state trails only California in medical device venture capital per capita, and medical devices account for 14 percent of all exports from the state.

"Our district is populated with medical device manufacturers that all share a common goal of delivering better health care solutions for patients, yet the medical device tax is stifling, especially for small companies," said Michael R. Minogue, CEO of Abiomed.

The medical device industry is already highly regulated, with many devices requiring FDA approval. But especially for small companies, the cost of compliance can be more than the tax itself.

"This is really having a disproportionate impact on small- to medium-sized companies, and that's because there are many regulatory requirements that come with enforcing the tax," Moulton said. "A small company or a startup face hiring a lot of lawyers and accountants just to manage the implementation of that."

The medical device tax has come under fire from Republicans and Democrats, including Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren. Markey introduced a bill last month that would repeal the tax. Moulton is co-sponsoring the House bill. The bipartisan bill will hit the House floor soon, and is expected to pass. Still, with so much attention on the budget deficit, any bill that does not replace the revenue likely won't make it far.

Even if the tax is repealed, the medical device industry will have to try and rebound.

"There have been serious ramifications because of this tax, we've seen companies that have not fully expanded their facilities, they've cut R&D," said Tom Sommer, president of MassMEDIC, a medical device trade group.

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Verizon to contribute total of $1.5M to three local startups

Three local startups will receive a total of $1.5 million this month as winners of Verizon's Powerful Answers Award.

Vaxess Technologies of Cambridge will receive $1 million, and Aldatu Biosciences and School Yourself, both of Boston, will each receive $250,000 at the Saturday grand opening of Verizon's Boylston Street store for their part in a challenge that encourages entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions in education, health care, sustainability and transportation.

"These winners were chosen by panels of industry experts based on their ability to leverage cutting-edge technology to create solutions that deliver social good," said Michael Murphy, a spokesman for Verizon Wireless New England.

Each year, about 2.4 million people around the world die from vaccine-preventable diseases. And every vaccine on the market has to be either refrigerated or frozen. Vaxess Technologies hopes to either eliminate the need for refrigeration — or expand the range of temperatures at which vaccines could be kept — by combining them with fibroin, a protein found in silk, via the work of Tufts University researchers David Kaplan and Fiorenzo Omenetto.

"The nice thing about the (Verizon) money is that it allows us to pursue vaccine candidates, such as ones for polio, that will be very impactful from a global health standpoint," said CEO Michael Schrader, who co-founded Vaxess in 2012.

Eventually, the company may also use the same silk protein to make orthopedic screws, instead of titanium ones, that could dissolve in the body over time, as well as a micro-needle patch, similar to a postage-stamp-sized piece of velcro, that could be used for drug delivery, eliminating the need for a needle and a syringe, Schrader said.

Aldatu Biosciences will use its award money to help grow the company as it prepares to move to Cambridge and develops a kit to detect HIV drug-resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"It will not only improve health outcomes, but it will also help health care systems save money," said Iain MacLeod, Aldatu's co-founder and chief scientific officer.

The company hopes to start a clinical trial in Botswana by the end of this year, MacLeod said.

School Yourself, an online learning platform developed by MIT alumni Zach Wissner-Gross and John Lee, this spring launched AlgebraX and GeometryX, which have become the highest-rated interactive math courses on edX, with a combined 25,000 students enrolled.

"Personally, I think how a scrappy, four-person startup, rather than a huge university with unlimited resources, has created the top two math MOOCs (massive open online courses) is an interesting story," said Wissner-Gross, School Yourself's CEO. "We'll be using the prize money to release a public version of the powerful authoring tools we developed along the way, so that anyone can make interactive, personalized lessons like ours."

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More

Area hospital to use new security device

Newton-Wellesley Hospital will be rolling out new, non-lethal devices for its security staff in the coming weeks, as hospitals across the country have seen an increase in violent attacks by patients.

"As the services in the community decrease, more folks turn to the emergency room for their needs," said Dave Corbin, director of public safety at Newton-Wellesley. "(Hospitals are) all saying we're seeing more violence, and if any hospital turns around and says they're immune to it, they're either in the middle of nowhere or they're lying. It's certainly a trend across health care."

Violent crime in U.S. hospitals increased by 25 percent from 2012 to 2013, according to an International Healthcare Security and Safety Foundation report, and disorderly conduct has increased by 40 percent over the same time period. In January, a cardiovascular surgeon was shot and killed in his office at Brigham and Women's Hospital by the son of a former patient.

Newton-Wellesley is training its officers to use the Pro V2, a high-tech device designed specifically for security staff.

"It was built with this layered defense concept in mind, as the situation intensifies it is able to escalate and meet that threat, without getting carried away," said Paul Hughes, chief operating officer for Guardian 8, an Arizona-based company that sells the devices.

Guardian 8 will be at the ASIS International Boston Security Expo 2015 on Thursday in Boxboro to show off the Pro V2.

The Pro V2 has three phases to respond to escalating threats.

The first phase simply records audio and video — Newton-Wellesley will only record video thanks to the state's wiretapping laws. The second stage emits a strobe light and a siren, intended to catch an aggressive person off-guard. The last phase shoots a concentrated stream of pepper spray, which the company says is more reliable and precise than traditional pepper spray canisters.

"This is purely a defensive tool," Hughes said.

Corbin said the decision to use the device was not based on a single incident, but was part of a regular evaluation of the hospital security practices. Newton-Wellesley had planned to get pepper spray canisters for its security staff, but decided the Pro V2 was a better fit for the hospital.

"It takes the old-school pepper spray can, which is a dumb device," Corbin said, "and wraps it in technology."

12.32 | 0 komentar | Read More