Introduction
In the acute care setting interdepartmental communication is fundamental to the success of hospital operations. TeleTracking, the bed operations software implemented at Saint Vincent Hospital (SVH) controls communication between units, environmental services (EVS), and the admissions office control center. The basic functions of the software allow for the admitting office to: reserve patient beds, alert units of impending admissions, notify EVS of room statuses, and send instant messages to unit bed boards. The users of TeleTracking are able to communicate with the admissions office only. Currently, no access exists for units to communicate with other departments. The limitation has created barriers to communicating EVS needs, …show more content…
If a patient room status has not changed to “in progress” or “clean” or has not updated on Teletracking bed board within ten mins, automatic notification made to EVS supervisor.
6. EVS cleans the room and changes bed linens resulting in patient room prepared for postoperative care.
Technology in Healthcare The enhancement of current Teletracking technology has many benefits to healthcare providers. The utilization of this technology can provide easy, direct communication between nursing units and EVS department (Gallup, Kaneta, Poshywak, & Finis, 2013). Nurses will be able to provide more direct patient care, excusing patient care providers the tasks such as housekeeping. Delegation of not only a time consuming task is beneficial, but a changing of bed linens and a complete room clean of high traffic areas potentially could decrease SSI. The workflow redesign would allow for data collection of information that SVH has never been able to track before. In the past, SVH was unable to guarantee each patient received preoperative CHG cleansing and room cleaning. Now, the information can be extracted and used to understand the implications on SSI’s postoperatively. …show more content…
Healthcare providers would need minimal education on the operations of the software due to its current use hospital-wide. It will be imperative to educate nursing units and EVS’s department of the workflow redesign, so both parties understand their role in the reduction of SSI. A formal posting and e-mail should be sent to all employees in patient care services. EVS will require formal training to educate EVS employees the important role they place in healthcare acquired infections (Rollins, 2009). The financial implications for the healthcare center will be shown through our Centers for Medicare & Medicaid reimbursement. Pay for value is exercised, when SSI is acquired, loss of payment is reaped (An Evidence-Based Approach to Reducing Surgical Site Infections, 2015). In 2017, SVH will potentially free themselves of their Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction’s Program penalty. SVH is currently losing one percent of their reimbursement or $800,000. SSIs is one of the conditions where we have lost
In the acute care setting interdepartmental communication is fundamental to the success of hospital operations. TeleTracking, the bed operations software implemented at Saint Vincent Hospital (SVH) controls communication between units, environmental services (EVS), and the admissions office control center. The basic functions of the software allow for the admitting office to: reserve patient beds, alert units of impending admissions, notify EVS of room statuses, and send instant messages to unit bed boards. The users of TeleTracking are able to communicate with the admissions office only. Currently, no access exists for units to communicate with other departments. The limitation has created barriers to communicating EVS needs, …show more content…
If a patient room status has not changed to “in progress” or “clean” or has not updated on Teletracking bed board within ten mins, automatic notification made to EVS supervisor.
6. EVS cleans the room and changes bed linens resulting in patient room prepared for postoperative care.
Technology in Healthcare The enhancement of current Teletracking technology has many benefits to healthcare providers. The utilization of this technology can provide easy, direct communication between nursing units and EVS department (Gallup, Kaneta, Poshywak, & Finis, 2013). Nurses will be able to provide more direct patient care, excusing patient care providers the tasks such as housekeeping. Delegation of not only a time consuming task is beneficial, but a changing of bed linens and a complete room clean of high traffic areas potentially could decrease SSI. The workflow redesign would allow for data collection of information that SVH has never been able to track before. In the past, SVH was unable to guarantee each patient received preoperative CHG cleansing and room cleaning. Now, the information can be extracted and used to understand the implications on SSI’s postoperatively. …show more content…
Healthcare providers would need minimal education on the operations of the software due to its current use hospital-wide. It will be imperative to educate nursing units and EVS’s department of the workflow redesign, so both parties understand their role in the reduction of SSI. A formal posting and e-mail should be sent to all employees in patient care services. EVS will require formal training to educate EVS employees the important role they place in healthcare acquired infections (Rollins, 2009). The financial implications for the healthcare center will be shown through our Centers for Medicare & Medicaid reimbursement. Pay for value is exercised, when SSI is acquired, loss of payment is reaped (An Evidence-Based Approach to Reducing Surgical Site Infections, 2015). In 2017, SVH will potentially free themselves of their Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction’s Program penalty. SVH is currently losing one percent of their reimbursement or $800,000. SSIs is one of the conditions where we have lost