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Massena Memorial Hospital implements 'Roam Alert Patient Wandering System' to keep track of patients

Posted 8/10/16

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is now using a system to prevent patients, such as those with dementia or being treated for an overdose, from wandering away. The Patient Wandering System and …

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Massena Memorial Hospital implements 'Roam Alert Patient Wandering System' to keep track of patients

Posted

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is now using a system to prevent patients, such as those with dementia or being treated for an overdose, from wandering away.

The Patient Wandering System and Intensive Care Roam Alert were installed on the first floor, used mainly in the intensive care and telemetry units. The system requires patients to wear a bracelet on their wrist.

The hospital auxiliary donated nearly $12,000 for the system.

“We felt the need to help keep patients safer if they were at risk for wandering. Whether a patient wanted to leave the building or there was concern for psychiatric reason, we believe they were safer here so we can keep an eye on them,” said Chief Nursing Executive Ralene North. “This system is a simple and reliable way to prevent wandering patients . Sometimes with dementia patients, you want to make sure they don’t wander outside the unit or hospital. We designed our system here which closely models what nursing homes do by putting a bracelet on a patient’s wrist so they can’t leave without the bracelet alerting the nursing staff.”

“The Roam Alert Patient Wandering Control System and Comelit video intercom was installed and integrated with our existing DSX card access system. The system can be used two different ways,” said MMH Maintenance Section Leader John Beaudoin. “The first line of control is with double doors by medical surgery and the stairwell door unlock. When patient wearing a band walks up to the doors, the doors will lock. This prevents a patient from opening the door and leaving the floor. If a staff member or visitor opens the door when patient is too close, an alarm will sound. The second line of control is to have the doors locked 24/7. This could be for security/privacy in the event of a VIP patient or any other need. Hospital staff would be able to enter the ICU Suite because we have integrated it with the DSX card access/staff identification badge system.”

Beaudoin said the DSX system gives the hospital the ability to track who is entering the unit and when.

If the unit is in a lock down and a visiting family member wants to enter, there is a video intercom at the entrance to the unit that rings the nurse station.

Staff can see the visitor and communicate and allow the visitor entrance. Staff can grant access to the unit from the nurse station.

Additionally, there is an emergency lock down button at the nurse station so staff can quickly lock the unit if the needed, MMH said.