Technological Solutions for Surgical Centers Surgical centers are under ever-increasing pressure to improve workflow and efficiency, as the entire medical industry undergoes massive changes. Fortunately, technology providers are continually developing new and better emergency call systems and other aids that produce greater efficiencies in healthcare settings. Upgrading technology in targeted areas of the total operation can provide a direct boost to workflow and improve performance across key markers, including patient outcomes. Many systems are surprisingly affordable, and will pay off quickly over time, with reduced expenses formerly drained by outmoded methods. Here are some approaches that may help improve your center’s profile and enhance both patient satisfaction and the center’s future growth: Adopt the Cloud. Use a Cloud-based system to enable patient participation in compiling medical histories. Patients can access their information online for updates, completing forms at their convenience, and with greater accuracy than by phone. The result is reduced patient waiting time, and less staff time required for processing the information. More complete background means fewer opportunities for mistakes or oversights that would cause further delays at the center.1 Install a wireless nurse call system to summon nursing staff immediately when help is needed. Consoles are unobtrusive and wall-mounted. Signals are transmitted from multiple call stations, via pendant transmitters and call cord stations (ideal for patient use), push button stations in exam rooms, and code blue stations in procedure rooms. Repeaters enable better coverage across large areas. Systems like the Vision suite from Systems Technologies speed up response times and keep patients moving through the center. They offer more streamlined communications with optional enhancements like corridor light activation, LCD monitors, and wireless readerboards. Additional equipment options include IV pump and ventilator alarm notification. Install a patient tracking system. A thorough patient tracking system displays patient locations and provides a clear-cut record of how patients move through the process, including where bottlenecks occur or communications fail. That information, in turn, can be extracted, fed into reports, and accessed remotely for administrative use. Door and window exit sensors aid in tracking. Add transcription software. Speed up a time-consuming process that in the past often required additional staff. There are increasingly sophisticated options, like speech recognition software designed for medical transcription, that can vastly reduce turnaround time and increase workflow, while cutting transcription costs dramatically.
Add a practice management software system. Integrate inventory control with overall practice management. Streamline inventory monitoring and reordering of supplies. Identify a system that will use automated tracking and reporting, enabling a faster reorder process, with the proper amount of control and fewer errors. Every facet of medical care is straining to adapt to the changing environment. The combined impact of new requirements under the Affordable Care Act, plus the complexities of incorporating new technologies, leaves many hospitals and surgical centers struggling to keep up. Successful administrators will need to evaluate new systems and approaches for every segment of the center’s process, aiming for simplicity and functionality. If systems are well integrated with one another, the entire enterprise will excel, and the ultimate mission of outstanding patient care will be fulfilled. Summary Surgical centers must seek ways to innovate if they are to succeed in today’s climate. Industrywide changes in healthcare administration and insurance systems require greater efficiency. New technologies offer a range of solutions to improve workflow. Company Bio Systems Technologies is the industry leader in developing and manufacturing wireless nurse call and emergency call systems. They have continued to expand their offerings with a variety of products and services dedicated to improving life safety in health care and security locations, with toll-free technical support 24/7, and trained specialists offering on-site training and repair. Contact them for more information at 1-888-826-3394, or online at http://www.wirelessnursecall.com/.