Wireless Nurse Call Technology for Hospital Emergencies For nursing professionals, there’s seemingly no end to the trials and tribulations that one must contend with on a daily basis, from battling sleep deprivation to dealing with unruly and/or distraught patients and their families. It’s a tough job, and nurses need all the help they can get in order to carry out their responsibilities in a safe and effective manner. This is particularly true in emergency situations where life-or-death decisions sometimes must be made in a matter of seconds. Fortunately, technological advances have given today’s nursing professionals access to some highly useful tools that can, in some cases, literally provide lifesaving assistance. Among these tools is wireless nurse call technology. In essence, this is an emergency response system that sends alerts to on or off-site devices whenever certain specific actionable events occur, such as a patient leaving his bed, someone entering the med room or other unauthorized area at night or if a nurse needs help. We’ll explore this useful technology in more detail below.
How It Works A wireless nurse call system essentially consists of three main components: an input transmitter, a “repeater,” and an output device. The input transmitter emits an emergency signal when activated, and these devices can take a number of forms, including motion detectors, smoke detectors, bathroom pull and bedside patient stations, personal pendant transmitters and more. In some cases, the input transmitter sends its signal when it detects adverse conditions—e.g., a detector in the presence of a fire, smoke or if someone lights a cigarette. In other cases, the device can be manually activated by pressing a button.
However the device is prompted, it sends its signal to a wireless repeater which transmits to a computer configured to capture and process this data. The computer then sends a signal to one or more output devices—telephones, two-way radios, iPads, iPods, pagers, email addresses and any other equipment intended to receive these messages whether located on- or off-site. The individual(s) holding an output device will be prompted to respond appropriately—for instance, to hurry over to the area where the alarm originated, in order to offer assistance. Why It Is Used Wireless nurse call systems enable speedy response to emergency situations that arise in hospitals and other medical facilities. For instance, a nurse can easily activate an input transmitter if they feel physically threatened by an agitated patient and need prompt assistance from other staffers to handle the situation. The system can also be programmed to send an emergency signal automatically in the case of a fall. Additionally, it can be used to supplement and extend the reach of an existing system to enable optimal surge capacity—that is, the capability of a hospital to accommodate increased activity due to a “mass casualty” event. VisionPro Wireless Emergency Call System® Available from Systems Technologies, the Vision Link Wireless Emergency Call System® provides a highly effective wireless nurse call system that hospitals can depend on. This system includes customizable software that enables managers to adjust the settings for maximal efficiency and effectiveness at the particular facility in which it is used. Other important features include a range of input transmitters (pendant, belt, and wrist), two-way radio notification, motion detection, staff check-in status, call analysis reporting, and more. Company Bio Located in Hayden, Idaho, Systems Technologies has supplied high-quality wireless safety technology to healthcare and emergency-service facilities since producing its first system in 1995. The company is a member of several prominent industry organizations, including the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and the American Health Care Association (AHCA). For more information, visit online at http://www.wirelessnursecall.com. Sources http://www.wirelessnursecall.com/vpro.html http://www.wirelessnursecall.com/vlink.html