The 43,575-square-foot addition consists of two, all-private, 20-bed units on levels two and three for medical-surgical patients as well as areas for medical and support staff. The first floor is home to a new lobby, gift shop and outpatient services area for patients who need ongoing care.
Once new construction is completed, renovations will begin to convert the existing double rooms to private rooms. Plans call for an inpatient dialysis unit to be added to the 2nd floor as well as a 14-bed observation unit. The final phase of the project is slated for completion next year.
“Delivering the best possible patient experience was at the center of this project each step of the way,” said CalvertHealth President and CEO Dean Teague. “From the initial design to the final furnishings, every decision was weighed with the patient’s well-being in mind.”
He went on to add, “Our nurses felt strongly the Hill-Rom Centrella™ Smart+Bed was the best option for our patients. So, that is the one we went with.” The beds offer numerous safety features.
Teague said the spacious private rooms boast large windows to let in the natural sunlight, a 49-inch flat-screen TV, a safe in the closet and a sleeper bed he personally tested, which allows visitors to stay overnight with their loved ones. “When a patient is used to a particular caregiver, it helps them feel less anxious when they are able to have someone familiar with them,” he said.
Producing a Measurable Impact
The smart beds coupled with a new video monitoring system being used with patients at risk for falling has produced a 63 percent reduction in patient falls with injury from 19 in 2017 to seven last year.
“It is very significant that we were able to make that kind of impact from one year to the next,” said Shelley Morgan, RN, director of professional practice at CalvertHealth.
She highlighted some of the major advantages of the Hill-Rom Centrella™ Smart+Bed. “It has a SafeView® system that helps caregivers monitor bed safety status at a glance with easy-to-read visual projections.”
The colored icons (which shine on the floor) at the foot of the bed indicate whether the bed is in its lowest position, the alarm is on and the side rails are properly set. “Our nurses or anyone on staff can easily identify with a quick glance that everything is OK by looking at the colored icons projected on the floor.”
The bed can also provide verbal safety prompts in multiple languages, such as: “Please don’t get up” or “Your care team has been called.” There is a motion-activated night light which brightens the path to and from the bed. Additionally, the bed alarm can be set to go off when patients (who need assistance) move toward the edge of the bed. “The goal here is to intervene before something happens,” said Morgan.
The foot of the bed can be extended six inches for tall patients. Other features include a storage area for personal items like electronic devices and an easily accessible USB charging port on the side rail. “This is a huge patient satisfier,” said Susan Stevens, director of patient experience and volunteer services at CHMC.
Responding in Real-Time
Each private room is equipped with the GetWell Network®, an interactive television education system aimed at helping patients stay healthy after they go home. Morgan explained, “Patients and their family members can watch diagnosis-specific videos so they better understand what caused their illness, how it can be treated and how they can prevent being readmitted to the hospital.”
She went on to add, “After watching each video, a patient is able to reply if they have more questions and this alerts their nurse to follow up. Patients are also able to see the medications prescribed for them during their hospitalization and learn about their purpose and any possible side effects.” Through the GetWell Network® patients can also access the Internet, watch movies on demand, play games or listen to music.
During their stay, patients are also asked to rate their experience. “Through the GetWell Network®, we ask them about the quality of their food, the cleanliness of their room and the responsiveness of their care team,” said Morgan. “The responses are immediately sent to the responsible department such as environmental or food services. This gives us the ability to respond in real-time to meet our patients’ needs.”
Watching Extra Closely
“Our data shows the AvaSys® TeleSitter® system is helping us keep our patients safer,” said Diane Couchman, vice president and chief nursing officer at CalvertHealth. The technology enables audio and visual monitoring of patients at risk for falls or self-harm.
She said there are currently 10 mobile TeleSitter units in use on the medical-surgical floors and another 10 ceiling-mounted devices in the emergency department.
The mobile unit has a video camera and 2-way audio that transmits to a central monitoring station, where a trained observer watches the patient continuously, even at night. “If we see a patient trying to get out of bed without assistance or pulling on an IV line, we can vocally intervene while simultaneously summoning a nurse,” said Couchman. “If the situation needs an immediate response, the telemonitor can initiate a stat alarm which can be heard throughout the unit.”
Couchman said the Patient and Family Advisory Council was in favor of the new technology. The council provides valuable input into the planning process for new services and programs. She said the feedback from family members has been positive, as well. “Families really like that someone always has eyes on their loved ones while they are in our care.”