Self Regional Healthcare Enhances Patient Care with Bedside Testing
Critical laboratory test results that once required up to half an hour to process are now available in half a minute at the patient’s bedside at Self Regional Healthcare.
Respiratory Care staff at the 414-bed hospital now use portable, wireless technology to obtain arterial blood gas and electrolyte results from patients throughout the facility. The small, handheld devices are part of the epoc Blood Analysis System that utilizes wireless communication along with SmartCard technology at the patient’s bedside.
“This new technology saves time, allowing physicians and other caregivers to initiate life saving therapy more quickly,” noted Dr. O.M. Cobb, a board certified pulmonologist and critical care specialist who practices at Self Regional. “This technology provides a definite benefit for our patients.” Just slightly larger than the typical smart phone, the epoc devices are also used by care givers to scan a patient’s identification bracelet, thus adding one more safety step for the patient. “This new epoc system enables our Respiratory Care staff to be more efficient,” said Ron Deeder, Director of Special Services at Self Regional. “In turn, this allows us to spend even more time taking care of our patients.”
“With the availability of real-time test results at the bedside, our caregivers can now more rapidly access and treat changes in the patient’s condition,” he added. “The end result is we can better manage their care.” The innovative technology shows Self Regional’s commitment to providing advanced healthcare services to those living in the Lakelands region, Deeder said.
“The implementation of the epoc system is one more example of how we are advancing patient care at our hospital and better serving our community,” he stated.
The epoc system is manufactured by Epocal, Inc. in Canada. The company’s U.S. operations are based in Horsham, PA. For additional information about this technology, check the Epocal website---www.epocal.com.
Respiratory Therapist Cheri Satcher (right) uses the new portable epoc system to obtain arterial blood gas and electrolyte results from patient Pam Hall. Critical laboratory test are now available in seconds at the patient’s bedside at Self Regional Healthcare. |