Prisma Health Invests $41M in Advanced ‘Smart Beds’
In a step towards revolutionizing the patient experience, Prisma Health is investing $41 million in new smart bed technology throughout their healthcare system. The state’s largest health system seeks to not only improve the patients’ experience but enhance the workflow of the healthcare providers as well.
New Era of Healthcare Delivery
The investment comes as a part of the initiative to replace older inpatient beds with 1,500 cutting-edge Hillrom smart beds and surfaces. These select smart beds will be equipped with Hercules patient repositioning technology, enabling a single caregiver to reposition a patient safely in less than 10 seconds.
This innovative technology will be particularly beneficial in critical areas such as intensive care units, labor and delivery, medical/surgical units, and bariatronics, where specialized individual patient care is of utmost importance.
Increased Patient Safety and Satisfaction
In addition to improving patient handling, these technologically advanced beds will optimize safety through features for fall prevention and pressure injury reduction. The comfort of the patient also features high on the list, with increased comfort parameters and improved communication facilitated by the smart beds.
Prisma Health’s CEO Mark O’Halla emphasized their commitment to “patient safety and satisfaction”. According to him, the use of the advanced technology would streamline clinical workflows while reducing manual tasks, thereby reducing the risk of injury to both caregivers and patients.
Key Features of the ‘Smart Beds’
- They come with birthing beds that prioritize safety, comfort, and convenience for the mother, baby, and caregivers.
- The bariatric beds enable safe and dignified transport of patients who are afflicted with chronic obesity.
- Intensive care beds have the latest technology designed to cater to the needs of the patients who require intensive care.
- Easy-to-read colored projections under the bed provide information about bed alarm, bed position, and side rails, all viewable from the hallway.
- Enabled powered transport allows a single caregiver to easily and safely transport the bed with precise stopping and turning controls.
- A built-in USB port for a patient’s personal devices, a storage area for personal belongings, illuminated side rails, and under-bed light add to the convenience of the patients.
The rollout of these state-of-the-art beds throughout Prisma Health facilities has begun, with completion expected by mid-September. This move reinforces the health system’s continued effort in advancing healthcare delivery and improving the patient experience.
About Prisma Health
South Carolina-based Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area, covering over half the state South Carolina from the Upstate through the Midlands. The organization manages 18 acute and specialty hospitals and is licensed for 2,827 beds.
