We’re a long way from the moment Alexander Graham Bell spoke into his invention, the telephone: “Mr. Watson, come here — I want to see you.” He later wrote in his diary, “To my delight he came and declared that he had heard and understood what I said.” 

Nearly 150 years after Bell’s remarkable conversation, we still struggle to accurately understand what is said in a telephone call. This is especially dangerous in critical care facilities and hospitals where a scrambled message can lead to tragic patient outcomes due to mis-dosages of medications. 

A 2021 research report by the Patient Safety Network, “Approach to Improving Patient Safety: Communication,” recommends that ‘oral communication is still an essential component of effective and accurate communication across providers and that it should not be overlooked.” 

We Need to Talk Seriously – And Accurately – And Be Mobile Too

Unified communications (UC) enable mobility. It gives clinicians and nurses more time to care for patients rather than spending time logging in information or rushing from point to point in the hospital. 

Mobility also allows them to respond quickly to critical situations with tools to initiate automatic first and second-responder cascades.  

And mobility enhances patient satisfaction and outcomes with more personalised and attentive care.  

Julien Bertheuil, Managing Director EMEA at Spectralink, comments: “Our solutions have been designed to help workers in busy environments access the information they need, exactly when they need it. Whether this means being able to make a critical phone call from a lift or underground and ask for help or access the same productivity apps they have on desktops, greater productivity ultimately means greater efficiency and safety for both patients and workers.” 

Keep It Safe and Secure

UCaaS platforms improve data security and compliance in healthcare settings where privacy and confidentiality are paramount ensuring that data remains protected with enterprise-class security features that comply with HIPAA regulations, while becoming accessible to workers on the go. 

It also enables users access to tools and services directly from their handsets.  

Centralised management of devices and systems through AMiE (Application Management Intelligence Engine) further simplifies administration, maintenance and troubleshooting. 

A Hospital in Sweden

Norrland University Hospital (NUS) hospital in Sweden used Spectralink Versity smartphones to improve patient monitoring and safety.  

With Spectralink, the hospital achieved the following: 

  • Secure and reliable access to Philips CareEvent, a patient monitoring application that delivers alarms and notifications directly to the smartphones. 
  • Conduct high-quality voice calls and instant messaging with colleagues and patients. 
  • Remote working capabilities for staff who need to visit patients at home or other locations. 
  • Access to centralised management and support of devices and systems through AMiE (Application Management Intelligence Engine). 
  • Reduced costs and increased efficiency by replacing multiple devices with one versatile smartphone. 

A Nursing Home In the Netherlands

Aafje, a healthcare organization specializing in care homes and care hotels for the elderly across 20 locations in the Netherlands, chose Spectralink Versity mobile because they provide: 

  • An integrated alarm system alerted staff when a patient needed assistance.  
  • Provided staff members with a reliable and secure way to communicate with each other, even when they were not in the same location.  
  • Features that help improve patient safety include fall detection and emergency calling.  
  • Reduced administrative costs with access and updates to patient records electronically. This reduces the need for paper-based documentation, which saves money on printing and storage costs. 

A UK Mental Health Trust

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) used Spectralink DECT mobile phones because: 

  • Its single-user interface on the Skype for Business server allows staff to be contactable in all areas of the hospital. 
  • Seamless integration with Skype for Business, enabling smooth transition from Call Manager. 
  • Enhanced staff productivity and morale by allowing healthcare professionals to communicate, collaborate, and exchange critical information securely while on the go. 
  • The ability to “lockdown” devices in restricted areas ensures security and the availability of devices in an emergency. 
  • Scalability – the trust now uses around 80 handsets and 20 base stations with plans to expand further. 
  • Straightforward setup and reliable performance, with the trust reporting no device problems. 

There’s a lot at stake. Reduce the risk of poor patient outcomes and reputational and potentially devastating costs of malpractice litigation. “In today’s competitive environment, where budgets and resources are often awarded based on performance, it is critical that healthcare facilities protect their reputation through the constant delivery of outstanding results. Without crystal clear communications, it is impossible for workers to achieve this kind of standard and that is where our devices and solutions step in,” concludes Bertheuil. 

UCC supports mobility in healthcare, and Spectralink mobile solutions can support you in your efforts to deliver better patient outcomes 

Click here for more information about Spectralink products. 



from UC Today https://ift.tt/S0XnIL6