Challenges
Match making between request and qualification
Challenges
Today’s nurse call systems are used in a much broader sense than intended and with their unspecific alerting they create certain challenges. Those challenges result in a inefficient time usage and a mismanagement of resources. In our studies we identified the following challenges.
Today’s nurse call systems are used in a much broader sense than intended and with their unspecific alerting they create certain challenges. Those challenges result in a inefficient time usage and a mismanagement of resources. In our studies we identified the following challenges.
Challenge 1
Match making between request and qualification
Challenge 1
Today the nurse call is being used much broader than just for simple calls since it is the only form of communication between the patient and staff members. Therefore all types of request are being communicated over it. Medical request, support requests and non-medical requests. Since today’s nurse calls are reduced to unspecific alerts, it is impossible for staff members to anticipate what the patient need and who to send. So the qualification to resolve the requests usually do not line up well. This means that either overqualified personnel take up the request or the underqualified have to spend valuable time finding the right staff member with the right qualification.
Today the nurse call is being used much broader than just for simple calls since it is the only form of communication between the patient and staff members. Therefore all types of request are being communicated over it. Medical request, support requests and non-medical requests. Since today’s nurse calls are reduced to unspecific alerts, it is impossible for staff members to anticipate what the patient need and who to send. So the qualification to resolve the requests usually do not line up well. This means that either overqualified personnel take up the request or the underqualified have to spend valuable time finding the right staff member with the right qualification.
Challenge 2
Idle time due to unspecific alerts
Challenge 2
Due to the unspecific alerts it is impossible to know what the patient exactly needs and therefore what type of equipment is needed to satisfy it. It happens a lot that staff member need to leave the patients room again in order to get equipment or medication for the patient resulting in idle time due to the walking back and forth.
Due to the unspecific alerts it is impossible to know what the patient exactly needs and therefore what type of equipment is needed to satisfy it. It happens a lot that staff member need to leave the patients room again in order to get equipment or medication for the patient resulting in idle time due to the walking back and forth.
Challenge 3
Nurse call deployed by mistake
Challenge 3
During a shift it just so happens that patients actuate the nurse call by accident. Even though done unintentionally, a staff member is still required to go and check with the patient if everything is alright.
During a shift it just so happens that patients actuate the nurse call by accident. Even though done unintentionally, a staff member is still required to go and check with the patient if everything is alright.
Even more
Nurse call being deployed by mistake
Even more
When occupied in with task requiring absolute concentration such as preparing medication or working on an IV, it is very inconvenient if a nurse call of a patient is interrupting the workflow because of the risks in increased errors. Further, the constant noise emissions caused by the monotonic pitch of the bell sound can be mentally draining and stressful, especially in busy shifts.
When occupied in with task requiring absolute concentration such as preparing medication or working on an IV, it is very inconvenient if a nurse call of a patient is interrupting the workflow because of the risks in increased errors. Further, the constant noise emissions caused by the monotonic pitch of the bell sound can be mentally draining and stressful, especially in busy shifts.
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