Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has completed renovations to its Cardiology Pavilion, which features private patient rooms, new wireless telemetry technology and the GetWellNetwork interactive patient care system. The renovations are the first phase of the hospital’s cardiology expansion project which will consolidate all cardiology services on the hospital’s second floor, including outpatient cardiac testing.
“Our new Cardiology Pavilion will enhance the comfort and care of our cardiac patients,” said Tony Cava, president, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. “This renovation project was more than just a cosmetic facelift. We also made significant investments in state-of-the-art technology to advance the quality of care and improve patient safety.”
The unit includes 12 private rooms and 9 semi-private rooms with renovated bathrooms with wider doorways, wood-look vinyl floors and 43-inch flat-screen TVs. A family day room offers visitors a comfortable waiting area on the unit.
Technology plays a starring role in every aspect of patient care. The hospital has installed the latest wireless telemetry to monitor patients’ heart activity. This technology allows patients to move freely rather than be tethered to a bedside monitor.
New “smart beds” feature verbal safety prompts. For instance, if the bed detects that a patient is trying to get out of bed, it will caution “Please, don’t get up.” The bed can be programmed to “talk” in multiple languages. The bed projects visual symbols on the floor to let caregivers monitor bed safety, including whether the bed siderails are set and the bed is in the appropriate position. For patients’ convenience, the beds include USB ports for charging personal devices.
A call bell system enables patients to control the TV and room lights as well as summon a nurse. When assistance is needed, the patient can indicate on their control what is needed, such as water, help to the bathroom or pain medication. The light outside the patient’s room turns a corresponding color based on the patient’s need, alerting the staff and helping them respond faster.
Through the GetWellNetwork on their TVs, patients can access educational videos to learn more about their health condition, how to take better care of their health and their medications; movies and the Internet.
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s cardiology services include emergency and elective coronary angioplasty services; a full range of diagnostic testing services, including cardiac catheterizations; pacemaker implantations and a three-phase cardiac rehabilitation program. The hospital has received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for its acute m.i. program (heart attack care).
For more information about cardiology services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.