Many nursing homes are using out-of-date calling systems that aren’t taking advantage of all the fantastic advances in technology. Beyond the increased efficiency of updating your nurse call system, the quality of care for residents will also get a considerable boost. Outdated systems will put residents at risk of not receiving proper care due to system malfunctions and ineffectiveness.
Installing a new nurse call system will help keep your staff organized and reduce their stress during a busy shift. It will also allow them to provide a high level of care to the residents of the nursing home. When choosing a nurse call system for a nursing home, there are a few factors to consider.
Hardwired or wireless?
The configuration of each nursing home is unique. Depending on the room layout, and if there is potential for expansion, the type of nurse call systems that are best may vary. You’ll need to choose between a hardwired system or a wireless system. A hardwired system allows residents to use call buttons or pull cords to alert the nurse that they need assistance. These are permanently wired throughout your facility. There are also wireless options which operate in the same way, but without wiring required.
Is patient care tracked?
Secondly, you’ll want to ensure that all residents receive attention and care when they call for a nurse. If your nurse call system has no way to track when a resident is attended to, then they may end up missing out on necessary care. The nurse call system that you choose should have the ability to ensure accountability for each resident that calls for help.
Controlled access/CCTV
Knowing the whereabouts of residents in a nursing home is extremely important, especially in the case of an emergency. To deliver the highest level of care, nurses need to be able to locate residents whenever they need to administer medications or treatments. On top of that, with controlled access, each nurse will know the whereabouts of other service staff in case they need help with a situation.
Is the technology up to date?
With nurse call technology advancing, there is no reason not to have the best of the best. The priority is to deliver the highest level of care to all residents. The most up to date technology is required to do so. New options are more intuitive and straightforward to use. They will now track and collect data regarding each resident meaning nurses can offer personalized care.
Panic alarms
In the case of an emergency requiring external help, a panic alarm is handy. Having this integrated as part of your nurse call system will communicate the emergency to a monitoring station off-site. Instantly alerting the necessary services of your emergency will allow a quicker reaction time and the best chance to help handle the crisis effectively.
The new technology involved with nurse call systems allows a nursing home to boost their efficiency and deliver quality care to all residents.