PPE and Communication

Those of us who’ve been at the bedside of a patient in isolation know this dilema well. “Oh, bummer there’s no alcohol wipes, no stopcock, no extra chux, no --fill in the blank-- in this room”. And, as you’ve already guessed, “bummer” is not the typical word that is uttered at that moment. Isolation, PPE, communication, getting to their phone, getting someone, anyone, to get you the supply you need is beyond a hassle. It is a time consuming reality in the life of a bedside nurse who must gown & garb up each time he/she goes in and out of the room of a patient in isolation. When you can’t contact someone to get the item you need, you must ungarb, wash out, and go get it yourself. Then repeat the process of re-entering the isolation room all over again. This is also one reason isolation rooms may end up with a plethora of unnecessary supplies, nurses don't want to risk not having the next needed item, and may bring extra supplies, just in case. As you can imagine, it can be frustrating for the patient, especially when they feel marginalized, robbed of connection, like a victim of their disease. They realize the challenges their caregivers face as well, and it often pains them further in addition to the isolation they suffer.

Fortunately companies have stepped up to create products to address these needs. Now Hands Free Wireless Communication Devices (HWCD) are becoming important devices at the bedside. As this PICU research study reveals “Introduction of a HWCD in PICU was associated with improvement in emergency event rates.” Vocera, whose mission is to “simplify and improve the lives of healthcare professionals and patients, while enabling hospitals to enhance quality of care and operational efficiency”, is one such company.  Vocera offers a Smartbadge and other products that are helping healthcare workers communicate better, easier and with greater efficiency while improving patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.