November 14, 2007 - GetWellNetwork Inc. is leveraging its bedside communication system to help educate patients and their families about Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) superbug, using multimedia videos on the topics of hand hygiene and safety.
Through the GetWellNetwork PatientLife System, a series of alerts are sent to the patient�s television monitor asking them to watch the videos and answer comprehension questions. The patient's activity can then be recorded in the hospital's documentation system to complete the patient's record. The videos are designed for adult and pediatric patients.
"MRSA has become a serious concern in healthcare and patient safety. We believe patient education is a critical step in addressing this problem," said Kathy Wroten, RN CIC, manager of infection control at Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, DE. "By leveraging the GetWellNetwork system to engage our patients right at the bedside, patients and their families are now more aware of the role they can play in preventing infections and improving their own health. Within the first two months of implementing the technology, nearly 70 percent of our patients have watched the videos, and the numbers continue to improve."
The system turns the television in the patient room into an interactive resource during a hospital stay. By using a wireless keyboard, touch screen or handheld device, patients can interact with the system to access education, communication and entertainment tools directly at the bedside.
MRSA is an infection resistant to antibiotics, which according to a recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association, results in more than 94,000 cases and 18,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Of these occurrences, 85 percent are acquired during a hospital stay.
For more information: www.getwellnetwork.com