Technology
and more supportive environment for both patients and staff. Alerts are routed to staff smartphones and if an alert remains unacknowledged or unresolved within a specific timeframe, it escalates to a higher level of urgency. This automated escalation process ensures proper and timely attention to critical situations. The Silent Hospital project has led to several significant benefits, including improved patient outcomes such as enhanced sleep quality, faster recovery times and reduced length of stay. Staff have also experienced positive impacts, with reduced stress levels, enhanced job satisfaction, improved efficiency and smoother shift transitions.
Quantifiable results from the project include:
l Pre and post decibel (dB) measurements revealed a 3dB reduction, equating to a 50% decrease in noise on the ward
l The introduction of silent call bells has resulted in a 0.5-day reduction in average length of stay (ALOS) per patient, generating an estimated £74,942 in annual bed-day savings for the 25 bedded ward
l Surveys revealed a 12% improvement in patient-reported sleep quality, directly addressing the issue of noise disruption. Notably, 57% of patients who previously struggled to sleep during their stay reported that they experienced improvement in the length and quality of sleep
The technological backbone of RCHT’s Silent Hospital project is the DNV Imatis Fundamentum
The Silent Hospital project has led to several significant benefits, including improved patient outcomes such as enhanced sleep quality, faster recovery times and reduced length of stay. Staff have also experienced positive impacts, with reduced stress levels, enhanced job satisfaction, improved efficiency and smoother shift transitions.
platform, an enterprise level intelligent platform which, when deployed, becomes integral to the overall IT architecture of a hospital. Fundamentum digitalises and automates work processes using data from both existing and new systems. At RCHT, the platform has been tailored to meet the specific needs of the site and is integrated with both the existing Wandsworth Healthcare nurse call system and the hospital’s wider infrastructure.
Addressing the risk of alarm fatigue Alarm management is another crucial means of enhancing patient safety. Studies have shown that alarm fatigue can occur when clinicians experience high exposure to medical device alarms. The excessive volume and frequency of alarms used in healthcare environments is widely recognised as an important patient safety issue.
Missed or delayed responses to alarms can lead to adverse patient events, including increased mortality rates and prolonged hospital stays. Additionally, constant alarm noise contributes to a stressful work environment, impacting job satisfaction and patient care. Effective alarm management is essential to
mitigate these risks. By implementing strategies to reduce unnecessary alarms, improve alarm accuracy and optimise alarm response, hospitals can significantly enhance patient safety. Working with DNV Imatis, Wandsworth Healthcare has developed a mobile alarm management system that is designed to tackle alarm fatigue and ensure patient safety. It prioritises critical alerts, filters out false alarms and provides clear visual cues. Staff members receive all the information they need straight to the mobile device in their pocket, in real time, improving response times and reducing stress. They are able to send messages, receive test results, requisitions, alarms and notifications. Alarms are prioritised based on severity, ensuring clinical staff address critical issues first. Alarms are intelligently routed based on predefined rules and role-based assignments, minimising the risk of missed or delayed responses. This targeted approach reduces alarm fatigue among staff, allowing them to focus on genuine emergencies without the distraction. Additionally, real-time data and seamless integration with existing hospital systems ensure that healthcare providers have immediate access to vital patient information, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making.
An effective task management solution ensures that tasks are assigned to the right individuals at the right time
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I February 2025
Using technology to empower patients Patient engagement is another factor that plays a crucial role in enhancing patient safety. There are numerous studies demonstrating the positive impact of patient engagement on patient safety. Patients that are actively involved in their care are more likely to understand their treatment plans, follow medical advice and
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