5 Healthcare Strategies for Managing Increasing Patient Numbers
The healthcare industry is embracing a new era of innovation and efficiency in the face of ever-increasing patient numbers. Facilities are turning to advanced medical devices for help with the goal of providing optimal care and managing the challenges of patient overflow. The landscape of patient care is being reshaped by technology, from streamlining communication with mass notification and nurse call integration to ensuring safety and security through smart sensing and emergency alert systems.
Here are five strategies for managing increasing patient numbers:
1. Workflow improvement and staff and patient locating
A key strategy for managing growing caseloads is to enhance workflows, staff allocation, and patient locating using real-time locating systems (RTLS). Fine-tuning how staff are assigned and which tasks are prioritized enables healthcare facilities to run more efficiently. For example, RTLS technology allows for better locating of patients and staff, leading to improved patient safety without the need for constant check-ins. This, in turn, enhances speed-to-care for other patients to improve their experience (and potentially outcomes). Ultimately, these solutions ensure medical personnel and other resources are used wisely, with a mind for operational efficiency.
2. Intercoms and emergency phones
Another essential strategy for handling the influx of patients is the use of intercoms and emergency phones. These tools are crucial for fast and clear communication among healthcare staff, and they’re especially important for critical responses requiring prompt assistance. When intercoms are connected with medical devices, communication becomes even more seamless, giving nursing staff much-needed visibility while moving within facilities. These systems go beyond communication, too. They also substantially improve safety and security within healthcare facilities. Now, an emergency situation can be addressed by the most relevant staff rather than through a scramble to respond.
3. Nurse call integration
As nurses juggle more patients, the need for effective communication increases. By linking nurse calls with medical devices, healthcare facilities can enhance the quality of care, leading to quicker responses from nurses. This integration also allows for remote monitoring and support, extending healthcare professionals’ reach across different units or floors. Through system data dashboards and smart signal routing, patient needs and unit requests are easily visible and addressable, helping to allocate resources and provide timely care. This strategic alerting enables better coordination across growing caseloads.
4. Environmental monitoring/smart sensing
A vital strategy in managing higher caseloads involves environmental monitoring and smart sensing technologies. Smart sensors provide real-time data to ensure hygiene, prevent infections, and optimize patient comfort and recovery. For example, consider being able to detect airborne particulate before it enters circulation and subsequently containing it to a unit. This strategy can also guarantee compliance with regulations and offer alerts if conditions go awry, such as with deviating temperatures or air quality. In an application such as vaccine storage, it can be the difference between safeguarding an at-risk population and needing to maintain a cumbersome quarantine.
5. Senior living medical alert systems
In skilled nursing and senior living facilities, medical alert systems are essential for managing increasing patient populations. These systems are designed to meet the unique needs of senior patients, including for fall risk prevention and wander management. They’re also capable of providing emergency call assistance, allowing seniors to stay independent while getting help when they need it. This approach brings peace of mind to senior patients and their families, who can rest assured knowing assistance is always available at the press of a button.
Technology is key in managing growing patient populations
These strategies offer a glimpse into the exciting advancements reshaping the healthcare industry. As technology continues to evolve, the future holds even more promising possibilities for improving patient experiences and streamlining processes — even as patient populations rise. Embracing these innovative solutions and staying at the forefront of medical device integration will be crucial for providers looking to thrive in a demanding healthcare landscape.
Learn more about using technology to empower a higher standard of patient care at trlsystems.com/solutions-healthcare.