Brightshores Health System has adopted a new digital call bell system that makes it easier for nurses to prioritize the most urgent patient needs.
The new system, called PatientCompanion, was developed in Waterloo. It replaces the traditional one-button call bell with an easy to use app patients admitted to the hospital can use when they need assistance. The app can be accessed on a patient's personal smartphone or on a hospital-provided tablet. It differs from the old system by automatically sorting patient requests, putting the highest priority at the top.
“Clear communication is foundational to high-quality care,” said Brightshores CEO Ann Ford. “With this app, patients can easily express what they need and care teams can respond more effectively. Delivering patient-centred care is important to us, and PatientCompanion helps us to do this while better supporting our staff.”
The new app was tested last year on the women and child care unit at the Owen Sound Hospital and the surgical unit at the Southampton Hospital. It will return to the Southampton hospital's surgical unit this spring, with additional testing to follow in other Brightshores’ hospital sites and departments.
“We designed PatientCompanion to improve the experience on both sides of the call bell,” Christy Lee, the app's co-founder said in a statement. “Seeing this project translate into procurement is incredibly meaningful, because it means more patients are receiving better care, and nurses are better supported, every day.”
The new call bell system is available in multiple languages and can be customized to different units and the different types of patients.
