Even when you cannot physically be at the hospital to check in on loved ones or speak with hospital care givers, it’s now possible to have those face-to-face conversations with the new Family Connect free video app and bedside technology.
Part of Baptist Health eHealth (telemedicine services), the Family Connect app uses a HIPAA compliant platform, that can be used on most wireless devices to connect patients and their families no matter their location. It was first piloted at Baptist Health Medical Center-Hot Spring County in late 2016 to help family and caregivers at home to be more involved in the patient's care.
“We’re proud to be able to provide this service for our patients,” said Sheila Williams, BHMC-Hot Spring County administrator. “This technology allows us to provide a personal touch to families and loved ones who may never be able to attend a bedside conference, catch the doctor while he or she is rounding, or visit their relative in person if they live far away.”
Available to all patients at BHMC-Hot Spring County, this high tech tool can be used at the discretion of the patient and/or healthcare provider needing to communicate with key members of the patient’s support system.
The video technology allows family members and/or those who will be providing care after discharge to ask the doctors making rounds any questions; to have family conferences with the physician; to listen in when the nurse is giving discharge instructions or patient education so that they can help in the patient’s care: and/or to simply visit with the patient. Recently, Family Connect was used to help two patients who were in separate Baptist Health facilities stay in touch with each other during their hospitalizations.
“Clearly we’ve just begun to scratch the surface of the many ways that this technology can enhance the patient experience,” said Jim Whitley, Nursing Operations manager at BHMC-Hot Spring County. “We also feel that it will be instrumental in decreasing patient readmission by involving more of the patients extended care team in the plan of care post discharge.”
Other telehealth services provided at the hospital and/or Baptist Health Family Clinic-Malvern include eICU care (24/7 intensive care extra coverage), eNutrition Services (outpatient consultations), eWound (inpatient consultations), eCardiology (education and inpatient and outpatient consultations), ePsych (outpatient consultations), eCare Coordination (client care coordination between care coordinators, social workers and nutritionists).
“We want to bring access to care closer to our patient’s doorsteps and provide comprehensive care in their local communities in a timely manner and telehealth allows us to do this,” said Kourtney Matlock, assistant vice president of Patient Services. “We hope to bring more specialty services to the Malvern community in the future.”
Baptist Health is an Arkansas-based, locally owned and managed, not-for-profit, and faith-based healthcare organization. Baptist Health is also Arkansas’ most comprehensive healthcare organization with more than 9,100 employees operating nine hospitals. For more information about Baptist Health, please call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or visit the website at baptist-health.com.