Date: 8/15/2011 12:00:00 AM
With a goal of increasing patient safety and satisfaction, Clearfield Hospital has made a significant investment in new patient beds, and now offers private rooms.
“In an effort to improve the patient experience at Clearfield Hospital, we have outfitted our inpatient rooms on the first and second floors with new state-of-the-art beds. The beds provide many features that will increase patient comfort, and they are also equipped with safety options to protect both patients and staff. We’ve also decided to convert many of our semi-private rooms to single occupancy in order to further enhance the patient and family experience during hospitalization,” stated Kathy Bedger, MS, RN, vice president/chief nursing officer.
The new beds, Hill Rom’s Smart Beds, have top-of-the-line mattresses that absorb pressure and make patients more comfortable, according to Bedger. They are more adjustable than the previous beds, with several reclining options, and can be adapted for a patient’s height.
The most important aspect of the new beds is improved safety. They are programmed to interact with the hospital’s new nurse call bell system, and will alert caregivers if, for example, the brake system on the bed is not working.
The Smart Beds also weigh patients, eliminating the need for the patient to be removed from the bed. The beds are easy to operate and navigate, and are lower than the former beds, making it easier for patients to get in and out of them.
“Patient safety and quality of care remain the prime objectives of Clearfield Hospital. The nurse call system allows patients and staff more immediate contact by connecting them through a voice communication almost immediately. The members of the bedside nursing staff will also be visiting each patient more frequently, checking on the needs of each patient in an effort provide better service and nursing interventions,” Bedger said.
In conjunction with these new additions, the hospital has converted most of its rooms from semi-private to private. Bedger said this option provides for improved patient privacy, additional space to administer nursing care and greater comfort for visiting family members, among other advantages.
While the goal is to keep all rooms private, Bedger noted that in times of high volume, the rooms may be converted back to semi-private for that period of time.
“Should a surge in admissions occur, we are able to re-establish as many rooms as needed to double occupancy,” she noted.
In total, the hospital invested more than $800,000 for the nurse call bell system and Smart Beds.
“We are pleased that we could make this investment in new equipment to improve the patient experience at Clearfield Hospital. The new beds and nurse call bell system, and increased access to private rooms, will create a more comfortable, healing environment. Our staff has embraced these changes, and we are already hearing positive comments from them and our patients and their families,” stated David J. McConnell, president and chief executive officer.
Marjorie Beatty, a licensed practical nurse on the first floor, agreed.
“The recent purchase of hospital beds has made an improvement for quality of care for our patients. These beds are convenient for the patient and the nurses. The patients comment on how well they like them. The beds are more comfortable, easy to operate, weigh patients and have a safety alarm system. They provide safe care and comfort measures for the best quality of care at Clearfield Hospital,” she said.
