The flexibility provided by wireless falls alarm mounting accommodates nursing workflow and can help these busy caregivers use their time more efficiently. Wireless falls monitoring alarms can be mounted anywhere in the patient’s room (e.g., near the bathroom or patient room door) or even outside the door to the room. They do not have to be tethered to the nurse call outlet at the head of the hospital bed.
Mounting a wireless falls monitoring alarm, sometimes called a wireless falls prevention alarm, outside the room allows nurses to silence the alarm as they enter to assist the patient. Being able to move the alarm to different locations near the patient within the room can also enhance caregiver convenience.
Overall, the flexibility afforded by wireless falls alarm mounting can provide several distinct advantages, including simple compatibility with practically all room and facility layouts; the ability of staff to confirm active monitoring without disturbing the patient (i.e., by checking the status light on an alarm mounted near the doorway); the removal of device placement limitations imposed by cord lengths or locations of outlets; and elimination of the need to climb over equipment, cords, or the patient to access the alarm.
Using an alarm-sensor pair for each fall risk patient can help nurses monitor multiple individuals while performing the balance of their duties, a particularly important benefit when staffing shortages are an issue. Note that all wireless falls prevention technology is intended to complement, not replace, an organization’s established safety protocols, such as assisted toileting and nurse rounding.
Before we discuss this technology further, let’s look at some of the challenges nurses face as they work to keep fall risk patients safe.
Nurses often encounter a wide array of challenges in the course of performing their duties. Workflow can be influenced by many situational factors, including:
Now let’s turn our attention to a few wireless technology offerings that can help nurses optimize their time and safeguard their fall risk patients.
The unique combination of functionality, simplicity, and versatility provided by today’s wireless falls prevention alarms and sensors can make these medical devices an integral part of a comprehensive strategy for protecting patients and assisting nurses.
Here are some examples of the types of wireless fall monitoring alarms and sensors available for use in hospitals and other healthcare facilities:
Posey® On Cue® PRO Alarms are easy-to-install wireless falls prevention alarms designed to give nurses greater workflow flexibility when monitoring fall risk patients. The On Cue PRO Alarm can be mounted anywhere in the patient’s room or just outside the door to the room. Tap-2-Pair® technology allows nurses to pair On Cue PRO Alarms quickly and simply with Posey sensors and nurse call adapters.
Wireless chair sensor pads are designed to help nurses monitor fall risk patients who may attempt an unassisted chair exit. Use of a wireless chair sensor pad lets the nurse place the chair anywhere in the room for patient comfort (e.g., near a window), regardless of the room’s layout, without introducing a new tripping hazard.
Wireless toilet sensors are designed to help nurses monitor fall risk patients who may attempt an unassisted toilet exit. Intended to complement an organization’s fall prevention protocol for assisted patient toileting, a wireless toilet sensor can help the nurse respect the patient’s right to dignity and privacy when used as an added safety measure. It can also alert the nurse that a patient who failed to seek caregiver assistance is attempting to exit a toilet.
Wireless nurse call adapters are designed to further enhance workflow flexibility for nurses monitoring patients at risk of a fall. Pairing a wireless falls prevention alarm with a wireless nurse call adapter enables the nurse call system to be wirelessly notified when the alarm sounds.
Contact us to learn more about how wireless falls prevention alarms can support nursing workflow!