Six months into the implementation of our new, state-of-the-art Vision Link Nurse Call System, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive!
Residents of United Hebrew’s skilled nursing home, where the new system has been installed, say it’s quieter, which helps them to sleep more soundly without nighttime disruptions. Nursing staff say that it has helped them to respond more quickly to residents, and to work more efficiently: they know right away where a resident needs help, and whether another nurse has already responded.
Using Mobile technology
Now, when a resident presses the call bell, a signal is delivered silently, three ways: to a touch-screen monitor at the nurses’ station, to a mobile device carried by each nursing assistant, and to a hallway light outside of the resident’s room. Much like calling for an Uber, the alert continues until one nursing assistant “accepts” the call. In addition, the alert specifies if the resident is in the bedroom or the bathroom, or if someone has entered a stairwell without using an authorization code, enabling the nursing assistant to respond more directly to the resident needs.
“As our population ages, technology is advancing to help enhance the care we provide to our residents,” says Jerome Bagaporo, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at United Hebrew. “Not only has this new system helped us streamline communication between our residents and staff, it has helped us provide a more home-like environment and improve our residents’ experience.”
The previous system employed two-way voice functionality: when a resident needed assistance, they pressed a bell, which dialed the nurses’ station. If the nurses had stepped away to help others, the resident (and her roommate, if she was in a semi-private room) would hear repeated dialing in their room. When the nurse answered, their conversation took place over a speaker within the room.
Improved Care
The new system brings an array of new functionality that improves workflow, helps United Hebrew’s staff work more efficiently and create a unique care plan for residents, according to Bagaporo.
“Previously, we had no way of knowing how long it took staff to respond, other than self-reporting from nurses and residents. Now, we can address issues in response time from our staff immediately. In addition, the daily reports on when and how frequently residents call have helped us anticipate the needs of our residents more accurately and create more proactive care plans. The data has helped us to increase our residents’ satisfaction and ensure that they receive the highest quality of care,” he notes.
Additional functionality is planned for integration this summer, according to Kelvin Hui, Chief Information Officer, who worked closely with Bagaporo on the selection and implementation of the system. Bed alerts will be installed for those residents who are at high risk of falling; if they move away from their bed, staff will receive a silent alert to attend to them immediately.
