Hospital Innovations

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I was just wondering if anyone has seen any cool new ideas or innovations where they work that make their lives easier? Things like a tube system for medications/lab samples (not really NEW, but a lot of facilities don't use them yet). Or a "Discharge Waiting Area" where patients who have been discharged but are simply waiting for, say, a ride can wait (under supervision of a staff member), which frees up much-needed rooms sooner. Anything goes, just curious as to what new ideas people have seen implemented that seem to be working.

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

tube systems - cause more problems than they solve - even in a new build

discharge lounge = old news

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Tube systems? That's a blast from the past.

Point of Care machines for labs.

Lift teams.

Improved lifting/mobility systems for LTC and rehab areas.

Computerized orders and better charting programs.

Getting all the units and ED to use some of the same manufacturers of equipment for easy transfer and transport.

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Zippy - I've worked in a hospital with a tube system and currently work in a hospital which is in the process of implementing one. And I can tell you that, in my personal experience, whatever problems the tube system may have they are definitely NOT worse than not having one at all. Especially when the alternative is relying on volunteers to deliver medications because there isn't enough pharmacy staff. Maybe you can actually answer my question instead of just shooting down the examples I gave?

GreyGull - Thanks!

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.
Zippy - I've worked in a hospital with a tube system and currently work in a hospital which is in the process of implementing one. And I can tell you that, in my personal experience, whatever problems the tube system may have they are definitely NOT worse than not having one at all. Especially when the alternative is relying on volunteers to deliver medications because there isn't enough pharmacy staff. Maybe you can actually answer my question instead of just shooting down the examples I gave?

GreyGull - Thanks!

i've worked in a number of hospitals with tube systems and the amount of samples / drug charts / medication that goes missing makes it not worthwhile, then of course there's the restrictions on what you can and can't send by tube .... forget the tube , forget it's maintainance contract and pay a 'sample porter' who will ensure that samples etc are delivered accurately and in a timely manner ...

discharge lounges are old news - but are a sticking plaster on wider problems

lift teams indicate a faulty culture which still sees moving and handling as 'lifting' done by people instead of using the wide range of solutions mandated by law in places such as every EU state due to progressive Health and safety legislation that places task redesign as the first and best risk control.

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i've worked in a number of hospitals with tube systems and the amount of samples / drug charts / medication that goes missing makes it not worthwhile, then of course there's the restrictions on what you can and can't send by tube .... forget the tube , forget it's maintainance contract and pay a 'sample porter' who will ensure that samples etc are delivered accurately and in a timely manner ...

discharge lounges are old news - but are a sticking plaster on wider problems

lift teams indicate a faulty culture which still sees moving and handling as 'lifting' done by people instead of using the wide range of solutions mandated by law in places such as every EU state due to progressive Health and safety legislation that places task redesign as the first and best risk control.

Once again you are very good at saying what won't work, but strangely silent on actually contributing to the point of the thread. I don't really care about tube systems or discharge lounges, I was giving examples of things we've already seen that were considered innovations when they came about. What I want to know is what NEW things people are trying that makes their units run more smoothly.

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I like the tube systems.

I also very much like computerized charting, moving from a hospital with computerized charting to a better hospital that is still STUCK on paper orders makes me have to do 5 extra steps to initiate and carry out orders. :(

We have mobility teams too i find them to be very helpful.

We don't have these but have you heard of those tracking things that track how many times you go in a patient room and how long your are there from tracking your ID? Its like big brother! Good for when a patient says ohh she/he was never in my room when in fact you were there multiple times during your shift. But..just scary to think about that is what healthcare has come down too.

Im not sure if its "new" but seems a new concept to me.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm an APN so my opinion comes from using several hospital systems:

1. Some type of universal medical record system. Really a hassle to try to not only remember all the passwords, but difficult to access other visits if pt uses more then one hospital.

2. More discharge planners. At almost every facility, they are truly overburdened.

3. Palliative care teams at each hospital. It's very difficult for the hospitalize or intensivist to down adequate job at this. Much better for the family and pt to see the same people each visit.

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My unit recently had new lifts installed in the ceiling of several of our rooms. I can't wait to start using them! These lifts will allow us (CNAs/techs) to do our jobs so much more safely if they work as anticipated. And let us help the patients get out of bed more often.

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I think automatic blood pressure cuffs are pretty cool, too. I can set it up and do all kinds of things while waiting for the blood pressure to be taken. I usually do my accuchecks with my BPs. Saves me so much time.

What I would like to see would be a small supply cabinet in each room with the basics - tape, gauze, alcohol pads, a change of sheets, extra towels and wash cloths, linen bags, etc - that opened to the outside so you could stock it without having to go in the room and contaminate the stuff. I saw something similar and I think it would save so much time running back and forth to supply rooms.

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Thanks for all the input, guys. Much appreciated. :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
What I would like to see would be a small supply cabinet in each room with the basics - tape, gauze, alcohol pads, a change of sheets, extra towels and wash cloths, linen bags, etc - that opened to the outside so you could stock it without having to go in the room and contaminate the stuff. I saw something similar and I think it would save so much time running back and forth to supply rooms.

Interesting, but how does that work with patients on isolation precautions?

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