Houston First: Mobile Video Monitoring Keeps Track of High Risk Patients at Memorial Hermann
HOUSTON (August 19, 2014)
TIRR Memorial Hermann and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center are the first hospitals in Houston to use the AvaSys® TeleSitter Monitor System, mobile video monitoring technology that allows trained medical staff to both observe and talk with patients at a high risk of falling.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, almost one million inpatients suffer a fall in U.S. hospitals each year. At least 30 percent result in moderate to severe injury. Many falls occur when patients try to get out of bed, either to use the restroom or walk around independently. Fall injuries range from scrapes and bruises to broken bones or serious head injuries.
“Patient safety is a top priority at Memorial Hermann,” said Chief Quality Officer Angela Shippy, M.D. “This new system emphasizes our commitment to quality and safety for our patients, all while providing the highest possible care and using innovative technology to redirect patients before a fall occurs.”
The AvaSys® TeleSitter Monitor System is equipped with an infrared camera and two-way audio. Once a patient is assessed to be at high risk for falls, trained medical staff monitor the patient using a live video feed from a central location in the hospital. When patients demonstrate potentially unsafe behavior, Memorial Hermann staff can quickly intervene.
“This new technology does not replace any of the current safety measures we use; it simply enhances these efforts and is another tool we can use to care for our patients,” said Shippy. “The feedback we have already heard from patients and family members is very positive. Families feel more secure and at ease knowing someone is continuously looking after their loved ones when they are most vulnerable.”
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About Memorial Hermann An integrated health system, Memorial Hermann is known for world-class clinical expertise, patient-centered care, leading edge technology, and innovation. The system, with its exceptional medical staff and more than 20,000 employees, serves to advance health in Southeast Texas and the Greater Houston community. Memorial Hermann’s 12 hospitals include three hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, including the Texas Trauma Institute – a level I trauma center which houses the Life Flight® air ambulance – a hospital for children and a rehabilitation hospital- TIRR Memorial Hermann, eight suburban hospitals, and a second rehabilitation hospital in Katy. The system also operates three Heart & Vascular Institutes, the Mischer Neuroscience Institute, three Ironman Sports Medicine Institute locations, cancer centers, imaging and surgery centers, sports medicine and rehabilitation centers, outpatient laboratories, a chemical dependency treatment center, a home health agency, a retirement community and a nursing home. As an Accountable Care Organization, the system also offers employers health solutions and health benefit plans through Memorial Hermann Health Insurance Company.