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| Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital: FROM HOSPITALITY TO HOSPITAL |
Glowster pagers ease parents'& carers' worries in main theatres
Call-Systems Technology has installed a 'CustomerCall' paging system in the paediatric theatre of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, to improve communications between nursing staff and anxious parents/carers who wait while their children undergo operations.
The CustomerCall paging system allows parents or carers to be contacted easily, with a paging format that is easy to carry, easy to use, hard to lose and highly visible - making it ideal for people who might not be used to carrying pagers.
"The system seems to working very well indeed after a few teething problems", says Karen Basham, Clinical Team Leader of the paediatric theatre. "It makes contacting the parent or carers very easy, and helps to reassure them". It allows them to leave the waiting area in main theatres and have some refreshment in the hospital coffee shops. We can then contact them when we need them to return to theatres when their child is waking up in the recovery area.
The CustomerCall paging system was originally developed for hospitality rather than hospitals, and designed for people unused to pagers. Karen Basham had a dilemma - allowing relatives to come and go from the parents/carers waiting room in main theatres during operations whilst still ensuring they were instantly contactable when needed. A conventional bleeper system was overcomplicated and less convenient for parents and relatives.
"We were looking for a system independent from the hospital bleep system and the Glowster seemed just the ticket", Karen said. "I first saw the Glowster in operation last year on a cruise ship, and the setting couldn't have been more different from a busy operating theatre.
"But I could see that the principle was the same - an easy-to-use temporary pager, one that was highly visible and not at all discreet or pocketable - because it's not supposed to be and is only needed for short periods."
On her return from holiday, Karen Basham met with the senior ward staff to discuss ways of improving the current system. Coincidentally enough, one of the hospital sisters mentioned she had also noticed the Glowster at a local restaurant.
Karen found CST very helpful in putting together a proposal for using Glowster in a hospital environment, and funding came from the Friends of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, who were very supported of the proposal.
The Glowster is in the shape of a drinks coaster, surrounded with LED lights that flash red to alert the holder to contact a prearranged person, such as a nurse or practitioner. The Glowster's design, completely counter to a conventional 'pocket and forget' pager, means the paging alert is less likely to be missed, and the unit is unlikely to be taken away accidentally.
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Call-Systems Technology Ltd, Middlesex House, 29-45 High Street, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 7UU |
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