The Brooke Army Medical Center’s (BAMC) newsletter called “Focus”, describes how the staff is successfully using a “Wireless Hands-Free Integrated Communication System” referred to as WHICS.
The BAMC Information Management Division implemented WHICS as a badge device in 2017 to allow alarms from patient monitors to automatically contact the appropriate personnel through the device.
The $4.3 million project deployed 1,650 badge devices throughout multiple departments within the hospital. These badges were integrated with nurse call, telemetry, and telephone systems which enables patient alarms to be routed directly to nursing staff via the badge.
The wireless device also allows staff members to place internal and external telephone calls by using the badge which is worn around the neck. With the touch of a button, the caller can speak to another staff member using just the first and last name or their job title which immediately allows for instant secure communication.
If a patient presses the Call Bell in their room, an alarm is sent through the WHICS badge to the nurse assigned to that patient’s room. The room nurse then has the option of accepting the call or escalating the call to the charge nurse who has the option of accepting the call or escalating it to the clinical nurse officer in charge of the unit. Also, the staff when using the WHICS badge is able to contact security directly. All they have to do is push the button and say “Security”.
Currently, The WHICS system is enabling 4,324 personnel to use the system throughout BAMC. This includes all of the inpatient wards, intensive care units, emergency department staff, outpatient clinic staff, housekeeping, information management, along with other staff members.
Army Col. Mike Ludwig, Deputy Commander for Inpatient Services, reports, “This tool also enhances and streamlines communication with senior leaders at BAMC but also enables a wide range of staff located in the various locations of BAMC’s large footprint to communicate.
Go to https://www.bamc.amedd.army.mil/bamc-focus/nov2017.pdf to view the article.