6 Ways Your Next Hospital Visit May Bring Technology Changes

 

The continuing advances in technology serve to improve patient care and alleviate the work load of hospital workers. While some of these devices are in current use, others are in trial periods in facilities across the country.

 

Bloodless Medicine

Though regulations make transfusions relatively safe, patients may opt out of receiving blood products because of religious beliefs or concerns about safety. The innovation of bloodless medicine implements medication and technology that salvages, cleanses and extends blood volume without the need for supplementation with blood. The various techniques used in the process include minimally invasive surgery, coagulating lasers or electro-cautery instrumentation and volume extenders.

 

Remote Monitoring

In a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 10 percent of the Intensive Care Unit beds in the country now have advanced systems that provide continual monitoring of critically ill patients. The systems consist of two-way television monitors and video cameras maintained at an operations center via computer, which enables nurses and physicians to monitor and interact with patients, families and other staff members.

 

Paperless Hospitals

Medical facilities are continually moving closer to becoming paperless environments. Advancements in technology include hospital automation consisting of computerized systems that create electronic forms. The systems have the capability of handling a multitude of information that extends from administration through patient care. Department and file filters ensure limited access to qualified personnel and printing options easily create hard copy replications of any file.

 

SafeStep Testing

The cost and prevalence of hospital acquired infections prompted manufacturer Getinge to create the SafeStep testing unit. The portable, hand held device is about the size of a phone and detects the presence of adenosine triphosphate, commonly called ATP. When present, the enzyme indicates living organisms. Staff members swab the areas requiring testing and insert the swab into the unit. Within 15 seconds, the device displays the results.

 

Infection Fighting Robots

Patients hospitalized at the Loyola University Health System may see three-foot tall, cylinder shaped robots rolling up and down the corridors. Equipped to emit ultraviolet light rays, the medical center uses the robots in unoccupied patient rooms and surgical suites to eliminate MRSA and other possible pathogens.

 

Closed Hospital Gowns

A hospital in Detroit recently began supplying patients with new gowns that completely close in the back and consist of a thicker material that provides added warmth. The gowns have snaps in the front that make the garment adjustable in size. Easily put on or removed, the gowns also allow for IV lines and medical equipment accessibility when needed.

 

Every year, engineers create technology that serves medical needs. The technology utilized in today’s hospitals was once only the product of minds that created science fiction.

 

Categories: bloodless medicine, changes, hospital, Medical, nbsp, patient care, Patients, safestep testing, staff members, technology, visit

Five Creative Ways to Make Your Child"s Visit to the Dentist Enjoyable!

 

If you struggle to get your kids in the car and heading to the dentist, you’re definitely not alone. Kids sometimes need creative nudging from parents to make them want to get periodic checkups. Here are some helpful tips to have kids, if not wanting to visit the dentist, avoid dreading the experience.

 

Visit a Pediatric Dentist 

A pediatric dentist specializes in children’s healthcare. Waiting areas for pediatric dentists are normally dotted with kids’ favorite cartoon characters and fun games to play. This helps to drive down the amount of anxiety that kids (and parents) experience waiting for their names to be called.

 
Stay with Your Child 

Some pediatric dentists allow parents to accompany their children as they get their teeth cleaned or cavities filled. Depending on the child’s comfort level, mom or dad may be encouraged to sit with their son or daughter. All of these steps are meant to build comfort and reduce anxiety about visiting the dentist.

 

 

Shop Around 

Finding the right pediatric dentist can sometimes feel like a chore. Narrowing down the search with online review sites like Yelp and then following up with consultations with potential pediatric dentists is a great way to find the right one. Parents can quickly screen for a match between their child’s personality and the dentist over a half-hour talk.

 

 

Dental Presentation for Kids 

A big driver for fear is not knowing what’s around the corner. In other words, kids are sometimes afraid of the dentist because they don’t understand quite what visiting the dentist entails. DR. Peter Wong suggests attending a dental presentation hosted at a community center or school. This could, according to DR. Wong, help kids get acquainted with going to the dentist. Often a routine cleaning is demonstrated on a stuffed animal and the mood is kept light to help kids ease into the idea of visiting the dentist.

 

 

Read About It! 

There are dozens of fun books to get children excited about visiting the dentist. From “Melvin: The Magnificent Molar” to the Berenstain Bears series on visiting the dentist, books are a great way to show kids that visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be drudgery. You could also consider buying cartoon-themed toothbrushes to go along with some of these books.

 

http://www.childrensdentalgroup.com/10-books-to-get-your-children-excited-about-the-dentist/

 

Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be painful for kids. Finding the right pediatric dentist or visiting dental presentations is a great way to allay your child’s fear over heading to the dentist.

 

Categories: child's, creative ways, Dentist, enjoyable, visit