Everything You Need To Know About Nurse Call Systems
If you run, oversee or work in any kind of medical facility, you’ll fully understand the importance of providing top-quality care to patients and residents.
From hospitals to care homes, nurse call systems play a fundamental role in assisting caregivers in providing people with the care and attention they deserve.
In this month’s article, the team here at Millennium Fire Protection will provide you with a comprehensive guide to nurse call systems, outlining what they do, their importance and the different types available.
What is a nurse call system?
Before we delve into the detail of how nurse call systems can enhance the care you can give your patients, it’s important to understand exactly what they are and what they do.
In short, a nurse call system is a device that gives patients in hospitals, care homes or other medical settings the ability to communicate with nurses, signalling to medical staff that they require support or assistance. Typically, this is done by the user pressing a button or pulling a cord which will activate a light or sound that alerts the nurse and lets them know they need to tend to the patient. They’re particularly useful for vulnerable patients, especially if they’ve suffered a fall and need help getting up.
The origins of nurse call systems actually go back over 100 years, beginning with revolutionary British nurse Florence Nightingale. Nightingale acknowledged the need for patients to communicate with nursing staff, so she devised a system whereby patients could ring a bell by their beds if they needed attention.
It’s fair to say that in the intervening century or so the systems have become far more sophisticated, with battery-powered wireless nurse call systems commonplace in a variety of health environments.
Benefits of nurse call systems
There are a number of advantages which appropriate nurse call systems can offer your facility. These include:
Safety
One of the main reasons why nurse call systems are imperative to the care of patients is that they help to keep them safe. If a patient begins to feel unwell, they can summon a nurse at just a touch of a button who can then assess them and administer the appropriate care.
Similarly, should a patient suffer a fall and find they’re unable to get up, if they have a nurse call system on their person they can easily call for help. This is particularly important if the patient has remained in their own home or in a private room in a hospital or care home. Without a nurse call system, the patient could be left on the ground for many hours without anyone knowing.
Satisfaction
As well as ensuring your patients are physically well, it’s important that while in your care their mental well-being is also taken care of. Health services in the UK have felt the strain in recent years, but nurse call systems can help patients feel more involved in their care, opening dialogue with caregivers and allowing the patient to voice any concerns or worries. By being more informed about wait times or certain aspects of their care, it’s likely they’ll be more satisfied than if they simply had to wait to be checked on.
Enhanced communication
As previously mentioned, nurse call systems for care homes and hospital nurse call systems are all about enhancing communication between staff and patients. Not only will better communication allow patients to feel more at ease or receive emergency medical attention should they require it, but it also offers patients the chance to update nurses on any developments or changes in their condition – meaning the most appropriate type of care can be offered.
Different types of nurse call systems
There is a wide range of nurse call systems available, and it’s important to select the correct type for your facility.
Wireless nurse call systems are among the most popular types currently used in the industry. This is because they’re easy to use, can be mobile and don’t require any wiring to take place at your premises – making them ideal for facilities that are unable to shut a section of the building for installation.
Here at Millennium Fire Protection, we offer a vast array of nurse call systems, including warden call systems and medical alert systems. If you’re unsure what type is most suitable for you, a member of our friendly and experienced team will be on hand to help.
Having the correct nurse call systems in place can make all the difference in your health facility, and our team can make sure you have a leading system in place offering supply and installation throughout Harrow, Ealing, Watford and the surrounding areas. To book a free site survey or to learn more about what we do, contact Millennium Fire Protection today.