Introducing The Patient Pager System For Hospitals, Clinics And Practices

By Author: Eric Schmidt
Total Articles: 8
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Doctor Pager and Hospital Pager Systems have been key drivers in the development of a new patient pager systems that uses cell phones. Combining hospital pager technology with the ubiquitous cell phone, the days of crowded waiting rooms and disgruntled patients are over, thanks to the Patient Cell Phone Pager System.
Genesis Hospital Pager Systems
Hospital and doctor pager systems established the wide area wireless network technology well before the modern mobile phone. One very important reason for doctor pager systems and hospital pager systems is the urgent need to communicate instantly to save a patient's life. Prior to wireless voice communications (i.e. mobile phones), the beeper pager using SMS (short message service) was the technology of choice. Small data packets broadcast wirelessly to a physician was a feat of "modern" wireless technology but also very expensive. The SMS beeper technology set the foundation for today's powerful and affordable patient pagers that simply use the patient's phone to alert them.
No Phone, No Problem
The modern patient pagers that uses the patient's mobile phone ...
... to send alerts should also include a web hosted user interface that registration staff, for instance, can easily input the patient's name and phone number into a virtual waiting line or queue. This simple, but yet effective web interface assures optimal wait list management. The preferred patient pager systems I am referring to actually track the average wait time, offer a digital display interface so older patients or family members who don't use a cell phone can monitor their place in line on an LCD display. Other important features include interactive queue management, where the patient / family can monitor their status in the line / queue by simply texting reply commands i.e. text "S" for your status in line.
Health Care and Hospital Pagers Evolve
Health care pager systems include physician pagers, hospital pagers and now patient pagers. Patient pager systems are growing more popular with patients and families as well as health care providers seeking innovative ways to increase patient satisfaction. The immerse demand on today's health care system has resulted in crowded waiting rooms, long waits for urgent care or emergency room services. Furthermore, we all know "waiting" in a waiting room can be hazardous to your health. The bottom line, all these factors negatively influence a patient satisfaction score.
Common Uses for Patient Pagers
1.Protect privacy/ compliance with HIPAA by reducing or eliminating over head paging.
2.Free up patients and families from crowded wait rooms.
3.Increase appointment times and reduce no shows with text reminders
4.Allow patients or families to wander, visit cafeteria/restaurant or gift shop or enjoy the campus.
5.Send private text instructions to patients to direct them to a destination or call a number.
Infection Control
A 2010 investigative report by CBS News in Philadelphia study found 7 out 9 coaster pagers randomly tested from restaurants in Philadelphia tested positive for Staph bacteria. An unnecessary infection control exposure at a time CMS is linking reimbursement to infection rates and readmission. Bottom line sharing coaster pagers with patients, families and staff is an unacceptable infection control risk. So what's the solution?
Advantages of Patient Cell Phone Pagers
The ubiquitous mobile phone is the solution. Think about it, everyone is texting. These modern pagers system are referred to as Cell Phone Pagers or Hospital Text Pagers. These pager systems are highly effective for a couple reasons:
1.8.5 out 10 American's have a cell phone
2.97% of all text messages are ready and 87% or read instantly
3.Appointment reminders / reduce no shows
4.Mobile phones are typically not shared thus they don't pass contagion
5.No replacement costs if they walk out the door or break
6.No expensive transmitters or non-standard equipment to calibrate
7.Set up and training requires minimal money and time
In all fairness, there is little we can do about the demand for services and the shortage of physicians but by deploying the new patient pager system we can give the patient or family the freedom to choose where they want to wait. Patient choice is very important to patient satisfaction whether it's choosing the right doctor or choosing where you wait can change a patient's perception and increase their sense satisfaction. The investment is minimal but the returns are great.

Brandon Munson, FACHE, a senior health care executive, consultant and technologist. Brandon founded the consulting and technology development firm Fulcrum Design, LLc in 2001. He's a direct assistances contractor with Connecticut's Regional Extension Center. Fulcrum Design developed the best of breed cell text / voice restaurant pager solution Mobile Matradee. Queue Mobile is a health care specific cell phone text pager technology designed to suit hospitals, doctors office and clinics. To learn more about Queue Mobile and our health care solutions visit http://fulcrumdesignllc.com and our blog at http://socialmobiletrends.com or call us at 888-669-9729