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An Integrated Approach to Nurse Call
By Brian Murphey
For decades, nurse call systems were simple, consisting of flashing lights and audible tones so staff could communicate with each other and respond to patients. In the past 10 years, the addition of microprocessor based central control has allowed for the addition of two-way voice as well as numerous other enhancements, including:
- Touch Screen Station: A graphic touch screen located in the nurses station area providing an interactive display and the ability to control call information, staff assignments, response times and more.
- Admission Discharge Transfer (ADT) Interface: Allows ADT patient information to be automatically imported into the nurse call system and continuously updated.
- Personnel Locator: Provides the ability to locate any staff member wearing an infrared locator badge, which can be continuously updated and integrated into the supplemental touch screen display. Activity Reporting and Management software (ARMS) can use this information to provide reports detailing staff response times and other activities.
- Equipment Tracking: Locates any equipment tagged with an infrared locator badge, which can also be continuously updated and integrated into the supplemental touch screen display.
- Wireless Telephone Interface: Allows wireless phone systems to automatically route patient calls to the caregiver's phone so they can assess the patient's needs before visiting the room. In addition, if a staff operator is manning the master station, they can triage patient calls and then call the appropriate caregiver's phone.
- Pocket Paging Interface: Allows pocket-paging systems to automatically send a notification about a patient to the appropriate caregiver's pager.
- Auxiliary Alarm Ports: Provides the ability to alarm devices such as IV pumps and pulse-oximeters located in patient rooms. The alarms appear on the master station and can be routed to pocket pagers or wireless phones for response by the appropriate caregiver.
A particular challenge is that enhancements such as wireless phone, pocket paging, personnel and equipment tracking are manufactured by different third party vendors and often require additional servers and specialized software to integrate effectively. Without proper integration, these enhancement systems do not always work with the nurse call system as advertised, and it can be difficult to determine where the breakdown in communication occurs. The lack of integration standards among vendors means nurse call systems from different manufacturers cannot communicate with one another appropriately. In the immediate future, there is certain to be more functional integration with third party systems and hopefully industry standards will be developed providing hospitals with the ability to use multiple vendors to achieve their nurse call system goals
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