Health Sector News
Nurse call system offers ‘complete peace of mind’
Wireless nurse call specialist, Courtney- Thorne, has developed its HTM08-03 compliant Altra nurse call system with the addition of new accessories, a new software architecture, and a three-year warranty as standard.
Designed specifically for hospital environments, the Altra Health range is claimed to offer ‘unparalleled wireless reliability’, utilising the dedicated European 869.2 MHz social alarms frequency to avoid any risk of interference, along with ‘listen before talk’ anti-collision technology and call acknowledgement to underpin call integrity. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sensors enable full connectivity without using any of the hospital’s administrative bandwidth thanks to a dedicated internal Wi-Fi network. The system can be integrated with DECT telephone systems to enable alerts to be answered by interdisciplinary nursing and clinical teams anywhere in the building; further integration capabilities with Android and iOS devices are under development.
Cover Story A hospital with history
Alder Hey in the Park is a world-leading healthcare venue, and Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) (RWC UK) played a role in its development, using its expertise to contribute to the accom- plishment of a key design feature. The architects were keen to go about things a little differently, and invited children to tell them what they would want from a hospital. Including as many of the children’s ideas as possible in the design, the end result is an inviting, warm, and happy place; a home-from- home where children have space, privacy, and a sense of calm, when undergoing treatment. Part of achieving this home-like feel was the specification of en suite facilities and beds for parents in three-quarters of the rooms at the hospital.
Eric Winter, RWC UK technical director, comments: “It was in the design and specification of these en suite facilities where we were able to contribute our expertise. We designed a bespoke TMV3 shower unit that included a custom ceiling trim to fit with the architect’s design, and the shower units incorporate integral gaskets to prevent water ingress, as well as copper components rather than rubber, to minimise the risks of Legionella and Pseudomonas bacteria. “Making a hospital feel like a home was central to the whole project, and we wanted to do everything we could to help deliver that. Avoiding a clinical feel, while maintaining the stringent hygiene standards necessary, was our challenge, and we are proud to have achieved this in such an innovative building.”
MD, Graham Vickrage, said: “Our in- house software development team has created an entirely new architecture not available for any other nurse call range. The system has been designed to provide complete peace of mind and accountability for users, while offering cost savings of up to 40 per cent when compared with hard-wired systems, backed by a three-year warranty.” Wireless installation is ‘fast and simple’, the system can be programmed and re- programmed remotely to meet changing needs, and all calls are displayed on the ‘Altra Touch’ touchscreen unit – which also collects call data, response times, and call duration information to aid with management and planning of staffing levels, and enables detailed reports to be generated. A new ‘Altra MiniTouch’ unit offers a
smaller, wall-mountable touchscreen display that can be located in communal areas to provide call alerts and location information for staff without them having to return to the nurses’ station.
A number of features address issues of wandering and patient falls, and ‘provide discreet wireless solutions for dementia, geriatric, paediatric, and mental healthcare environments’. In addition to traditional call buttons (Altra Call), pull cords (Altra Pull), and bathroom/toilet pull cords (Altra Assist), the range will also include wireless pressure mats and floor sensors, along with ‘Altra Guard’ door sensors and an ‘Altra Wear’ pendant that can be worn on patients’ wrists or on a lanyard around their neck, giving them access to a call button when away from their bed. The wireless Altra Wear pendant also automatically alerts staff in the event of a fall; it uses multiple sensors, and a digital microphone, to detect a fall and send a location signal to the Altra Touch unit so help can arrive quickly, even if the patient is unable to raise the alarm.
www.iheem.org.uk September 2016 Volume 70 Number 8 Health Estate JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING AND ESTATE MANAGEMENT
BIMand its benefits explained A‘future-proof’ urgent care facility Healthcare Estates 2016 showpreview
www.healthestatejournal.com
70 Health Estate Y E A R S
Reliance Water Controls Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) Ltd Worcester Road Evesham Worcestershire WR11 4RA Tel: 01386 712400
www.rwc.co.uk
Health Estate Journal 13September 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120