With growing evidence that some “superbug” infections are becoming resistant to even our strongest antibiotics, hospitals are taking new measures to stop the spread of germs.
Anti-bacterial hand foam is already available in every room of most hospitals. One large study recently suggested decontamination of every intensive-care patient to stop the spread of potentially deadly infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Antimicrobial pagers help hospitals fight the spread of bacteria while assisting in patient flow and communication.
A select few hospitals are even starting to experiment with robots to disinfect rooms by blasting out powerful ultraviolet rays that are 25,000 times more intense than the sun. Unfortunately, the technology can cost up to $100,000 per robot.
A New Paging Device Aids the Anti-Bacteria Fight
Clearly, all options are on the table when human lives are at stake, and hospitals are ground zero for the spread of infection. A study released recently in Canada indicated that, on any given day, about one in 12 adults in the nation’s 176 acute-care hospitals are colonized or infected with one of three known “superbugs.”
According to U.S. officials, one in roughly 20 hospital patients contract so-called “care-associated infections” – infections they didn’t arrive with.
Guest pagers have recently been gaining traction in the healthcare industry. Pagers are deployed in hospital or clinic settings to notify waiting guests when a department or physician is ready to see them. To fight the spread of germs in this delicate environment, Long Range Systems, a leading supplier of on-site guest and staff paging, has introduced a new antibacterial wireless paging device aimed at environments where being germ-free is especially important.
The antimicrobial pagers’ design eliminates germs on contact, reducing the risk of microorganisms spreading within a building or person-to-person.
Guest pagers are a great way to streamline the waiting process and improve the guest experience. For example, family members can go grab a bite to eat without worrying that they’ll be out of touch when a doctor visits with an important patient update.
They also help hospital staff respect the privacy of patients and their families – and stay within guidelines spelled out in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – because names no longer must be announced over loudspeakers.
Blocking the Transfer of Germs
With this new technology, health-conscious businesses have a meaningful new alternative when choosing a paging system. The antimicrobial option for LRS guest pagers is a tool that healthcare providers can feel safe putting in the hands of waiting patients and family members.
And the devices promote health and safety not just in their antibacterial properties, but also in their technology, which is designed to manage waiting guests more efficiently and eliminate counter congestion – another contributor to the spread of microbes.
All of that adds up to one more weapon that health-conscious businesses can use against the spread of germs.
Jason Barge is a marketing manager at LRS and an expert in communications for the hospitality industry.