Paging systems use radio frequency signals to transmit messages from a central server to pagers, DECT phones, and other output devices—an easy and simple way to reduce stress for staff members of any type of healthcare facility while protecting privacy.
Another system, encrypted paging, offers secure two-way text and voice communications, message escalations, and on-call scheduling to help broad care teams work efficiently while remaining HIPAA compliant (https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/laws-regulations/index.html). However, that’s only scratching the surface of integrating these systems into your business, so let’s get into it.
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Quick Communication
An overhead paging system, commonly referred to as a public address or PA system in healthcare facilities, is an invaluable piece of communication technology. These systems make information instantly available to dozens or even thousands of people at once, whether that means code calls or general staff instructions.
Paging systems allow users to communicate messages in both audio and text formats. Their wide service range allows for seamless coverage within an entire building. Most pagers feature long-lasting lithium batteries, which allow them to function regardless of temperature conditions; enabling patients or visitors to carry or wear them around freely in any part of the facility while still receiving signals even if their phone is turned off.
Turnkey wireless in-house paging systems are becoming more integral to hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and more. Compatible with existing nurse call button stations and supporting a range of features such as LED message boards and corridor dome lights as well as remote activation of wireless pagers, they can be integrated seamlessly with hospitals’ centralized notification alerts to deliver instantaneous facility-wide paging as well as daily personal messaging directly to doctors’ and nurses’ pagers.
Alerts to Staff
Paging systems provide an efficient means for sending alerts and messages throughout an entire facility. Staff can quickly receive the information they require without questioning whether their message has been heard; and at the same time, ensure that those responsible are notified without risking patient safety or violating building noise standards.
Hospital paging systems typically include both audio and text message capabilities. Prioritized messages will vibrate or sound an alarm on pagers when new ones arrive; or you may choose to notify specific teams, departments, or key individuals directly through your system.
Healthcare organizations frequently rely on organizational phone directories and overhead paging systems as the means for communication, according to this article; however, these methods often fall short when reaching large numbers of employees in an emergency. Important messages may be missed or misinterpreted due to these limitations, resulting in inaccurate responses to situations that arise.
Some wireless solutions utilize advanced software that connects staff, patients, visitors, and healthcare facilities more seamlessly together; additionally, using mobile phones that physicians already possess, they help healthcare facilities save thousands each year while increasing communication and improving efficiency.
An ICU physician could use the system to immediately notify nurses when a patient experiences an adverse reaction to medication, helping to avoid delays in treatment and increase patient safety.
Integration of an alert paging system into the intensive care unit physicians’ workflow is challenging due to the small screens on these devices, which limit their ability to provide context for physicians. As a result, physicians may not respond promptly when called by nurses and may need more information; often, this forces them back for additional inquiries or leads them backward.
Hospitals need to find ways to integrate alerts into physicians’ work practices to reduce any negative impact on physicians. One approach has been providing wireless pagers so they can receive work-related updates as quickly as possible.
Alerts to Patients
One of the key functions of a medical paging system is to provide patient-specific alerts, which could include lab results, changes to patient status, and potential medication or allergy issues. Though many go through a healthcare overhead paging system for hospitals & medical offices, they are typically delivered through clinical decision support (CDS). CDS systems combine facts and rules into software programming to produce notifications that can be sent via pager, email, text message, or mobile device alerts.
Some alerts allow you to set a reminder and select which users in your clinic will see it, helping reduce documentation burnout among clinicians while simultaneously giving other members of your administrative team access to see important messages that could otherwise go overlooked by busy clinicians.
Before you do, however, you’ll want to specify who; in fact, you want them sent to from your business or doctor. Alternatively, you can enable your organization to perhaps send direct messages to addresses within your clinic but also send alerts directly. Specialists suggest sending this information directly to patients, as they feel more comfortable with this type of information being handled privately.
Alerts to Other Staff
Healthcare professionals on breaks or commutes to work can utilize pager systems as an efficient method to deliver important updates. Not only can it send locations and shift-specific alerts, but paging systems also enable staff members to request assistance using mobile phones, an invaluable asset when dealing with high-stress situations that challenge concentration while keeping composure.
Overhead paging systems can integrate with facility management systems to inform residents of important events like fire alarms or lockdowns, visitor hours, meeting times, or any other regularly scheduled activities. These systems can alert other departments within a hospital, such as maintenance and security, to notify staff and patients accordingly.
HIPAA-compliant paging systems allow healthcare facilities to securely transmit and receive protected health information (PHI), making them essential in healthcare environments where communication about patients may be confidential or sensitive. While traditional pagers could potentially be used, for security purposes it would be prudent to opt for encrypted paging systems in order to avoid security breaches.
Pagers connected to clinical information systems can also transmit alphanumeric text alert messages directly to doctors without going through nurses; this helps reduce delays in patient care while saving both parties time and effort.
Replacing their traditional pager system with one that integrates fully into an existing clinical communications platform can help healthcare facilities increase productivity and efficiency at work. Some machines integrate easily with existing infrastructure to create a smooth workflow experience for everyone involved, providing reliable, secure messaging services featuring real-time location alerts, on-call schedules, live call capabilities, downloadable reports, and much more.
