Our company has provided communication solutions for healthcare facilities for more than 50 years.  And in that time, we've witnessed an ever-changing landscape. An aging population, increased government regulations and a troubled economy all add to the many challenges facing the skilled care and LTC communities today.

Facility administrators want to keep costs down while taking into account the security, safety, and comfort of their long-term residents. Another huge factor is providing efficient and convenient processes for their staff. They manage facilities that operate 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.  There is no down time in a skilled care environment.

Residents and the families of residents want a quiet living environment. Studies have shown that patients sleep poorly and take longer to recover in noisier environments. 

These demands require reliable communications networks with alerting components that provide security and safety for the residents: bed exit alarm notification, pull cords, call cords, remote monitoring, and wireless devices. Staff burn-out can be mitigated with automated resident check-in features that allow residents to maintain their autonomy while caregivers can ensure their well-being without having to physically make a trip to the resident's room.

We introduced Provider® Nurse Call in 1990 to deliver the tools that administrators and caregivers need to deliver high quality care while protecting the safety and independence of their residents. We know that communication needs of skilled nursing and LTC facilities are unique to the individual environment, but it still demands a flexible emergency communication solution that is adaptable to the specific facility. 

For routine staff workflows, Provider Nurse Call systems help automate process and eliminate time wasting phone calls and follow-up. Any process that requires notification between staff can be initiated by one-touch on either a four-button or touchscreen workflow station located in any staff area.

Facilities also have specialized equipment on site which require reliable alarm management. Medical devices including IV pumps, ventilators and pulse oximeters can be integrated with Provider Nurse Call and allows caregivers to monitor their residents from anywhere in the facility. If a monitored device alarms, the primary caregiver and other team members are notified directly to their wireless phone or pocket pagers; streamlining response to the alarm.

Jeron's Provider Nurse Call infrastructure is designed to reduce both initial installation and future maintenance costs while supporting any expansion or additions. Utilizing the latest in Voice over IP and Ethernet technology, Provider ensures clear communication, alerting, reporting, and time-saving workflow solutions for the entire facility.

As technology advances, we continue to keep pace by developing new emergency communication solutions for these facilities that have unique and challenging communication needs. Our success will continue into the future with the design and manufacture of sophisticated systems and advanced features to better serve unique markets such as skilled and long-term care facilities.

Ericka Baran is the vice president of marketing for Jeron Electronic Systems, Inc.