Over the years, nurse call systems have changed a lot. In most facilities today, these technologically advanced systems are utilized to accomplish many different purposes. But the basic concept of a nurse call management system remains the same. Nurse call management systems are electronic equipment used by a medical patient to communicate or alert a medical caregiver.
With the introduction of the newest technologies, automated systems are now being utilized in most facilities. Some of the newer equipment even includes a “panic button” option that lets the facility operator activate communications to the appropriate parties in case of an emergency. Other features in some of these systems include a “listen” function that allows patients to feel a continuous connection with their healthcare team even if they can’t physically visit the location. This feature is particularly appreciated by individuals who may be isolated.
While these new technology options certainly make it much easier for patients and their caregivers to share a common purpose, many of these new features are primarily used for improving patient care. For example, one of the most common uses of nurse call systems today is to reduce the time that medical professionals spend entering information into patient files. Many long-term care facilities have traditionally been slower to keep track of patient records than hospitals. By utilizing automated software, medical professionals can enter the required information much faster and more efficiently. Even though this may seem like a minor benefit, it has the potential to save significant time and money. An average long-term care facility could save over ten percent of its record-keeping time by using these types of programs.
Many long-term care facilities also suffer from a lack of patient satisfaction. Patients tend to be less satisfied with healthcare facilities than they are with most other locations. For this reason, the use of nurse call systems can have a significant impact on overall patient satisfaction. As patients begin to feel less overwhelmed and less frustrated by their environment, they tend to be more likely to be happy with their healthcare facility. Ultimately, this can have a profound effect on patient satisfaction and the success of any healthcare facility.
With all the technology available for nurse call systems, communication between staff members is made extremely easy and affordable. These systems do not require much more than an internet connection and a receiver/transmitter combination in most cases. This makes it possible for nearly any acute care facility to have this basic patient safety system, which improves both their quality of care and their bottom line.
