Brand Story – As hospitals and long-term care facilities grapple with staffing shortages, they are increasingly turning to smart video technologies to supplement staff and enhance patient care.
Intelligent systems are positively impacting healthcare operations across the country, enabling virtual inpatient rounding and other critical tasks. These intelligent systems are positively impacting healthcare operations across the country, enabling virtual inpatient rounding and other critical tasks.
Today, the benefits of data-driven video technology extends far beyond security-related integrations. Video technology plays a crucial role in helping hospitals and staff provide appropriate care when resources are limited, increase staff and patient satisfaction, and ensure compliance with regulations and credentialing bodies. Real-time and recorded video data are essential in achieving these goals.
Traditionally, video monitoring has been used to safeguard patients, staff, facilities, and medical equipment. However today, advances in video and audio analytics, robust remote connectivity, and the ease of use of video management software (VMS) has expanded their applications. These technologies are now routinely used to remotely monitor patients in behavioral areas, emergency departments, ICUs, as well as perform inpatient rounding and other patient-centric operational procedures.
In-Room Awareness
Patients with disabilities — which can include a wide range of conditions affecting vision, hearing, movement, memory, communication ability, or mental health — require increased supervision and assistance due to reduced mobility and the ability to provide remote patient care. In these situations, cameras act as a force multiplier, enabling healthcare providers to monitor patients 24/7, especially in the post-pandemic era when health professionals are stretched thin and nationwide staffing shortages are a significant issue. Most smart cameras and VMS systems offer built-in privacy masking to block out sensitive areas or situations.
Virtual rounding, which involves checking into a room virtually using video when a patient has activated a nurse calling system or has fallen, allows nursing staff to connect with the patient quickly, acknowledge their needs, and respond appropriately. This intentional and timely rounding is critical to both the patient and the staff.
Video management software also leverages slip and fall detection to determine if a patient has collapsed and needs assistance. Intelligent video analytics can distinguish between a patient who is resting and one who is in distress, immediately alerting staff for help in serious incidents. An open platform VMS, combined with smart video analytics and audio sensors, can provide valuable two-way audio support. This enables healthcare providers to see and hear any activity in the room and verbally address those present, offering immediate assistance when needed. These technologies not only improve patient safety but also help to alleviate the workload on staff by providing real-time information and enabling quick responses to emergencies.
Improved Efficiency
An open-platform VMS enables healthcare facilities to improve security and operational capabilities while proactively preparing for various situations. For example, video technology can alert healthcare providers when a room is vacant, prompting cleaning teams to service the room and prepare it for the next patient. Similarly, housekeeping can take place while the patient is away for physical therapy, tests, exams, or other reasons, minimizing disturbances which research shows faster and better outcomes for the patient.
These proactive actions help improve the patient experience and increase staff efficiency, especially when understaffed. Heat mapping within a VMS can determine foot traffic patterns, enabling healthcare organizations to minimize obstacles, improve the patient experience, and maximize staff efficiency. Sound detection can alert nursing managers to loud, consistent sounds that may interfere with patient care.
Addressing Staffing Shortages
Healthcare staffing shortages, although recently highlighted due to the pandemic, have existed for many years. These shortages are unlikely to be resolved soon, as healthcare facilities face challenges such as staff burnout, early retirements, and insufficient graduates to fill roles. Additionally, many prospective medical professionals are reconsidering their career choices.
To ensure proper patient care and staff well-being in the face of staffing shortages, an aging population, and the potential for new pandemics, healthcare providers can leverage the open platform video management system already in place for safety and security. By expanding these systems, facilities can quickly implement a wide range of patient-focused and staff solutions, making video technology an invaluable tool in today’s healthcare landscape.
Brand stories are paid content articles that allow Oregon Business advertisers to share news about their organizations and engage with readers on business and public policy issues. The stories are produced in house by the Oregon Business marketing department. For more information, contact associate publisher Courtney Kutzman.
