Transforming the Emergency Department with Smart Room Tech, Part 2. Four Ways Real-Time Information in the ED Supports Strategic Initiatives
Chelsey Kamla, MSN, RN, Clinical Solutions Director and former ED nurse, discusses the impact that smart room technology can have on key strategic initiatives such as quality improvement, patient safety, and operational efficiency.
The Emergency Department (ED) is often a patient's first interaction with a health system, and it’s rarely a calm one. High stress, confusion, and fear of the unknown create challenges for everyone involved. In situations like this, knowledge is powerful. It helps to comfort patients, arm clinical staff with critical care information, and help leadership teams implement strategic initiatives. This three-part series will explore how real-time access to critical information empowers nurses and physicians, informs patients, and enables data-driven leadership decisions.
The ED represents a crucial entry point for patients and a significant opportunity for organizational improvement. Because the ED is often a patient’s first impression of a health system, positive experiences set the tone for trust, continued engagement and affirmative patient perceptions throughout the entire healthcare journey.
Beyond cultivating long-term patient loyalty, health system executives are strategically focused on clinical outcomes, patient safety, and cost control. Key initiatives, such as fall prevention, infection prevention, and time-to-treat, build the foundation for measuring effective patient care and operations.
As we outlined in part 1 of this series, however, nurses and other care team staff often lack the time and resources to adhere to every strategic initiative successfully.
Smart room technology, such as digital whiteboards and door signs, alters information flow in the ED, giving nurses more timely and accurate data for on-the-fly decision-making and patient care. Faster access to critical information frees up time, allows nursing staff to focus more on direct care delivery, improves patient service, and contributes to the organization’s strategic initiatives.
Elevate the Patient Experience
Patient satisfaction remains a key performance indicator for health systems and leadership’s focus is justified. A positive patient experience is closely tied to better clinical outcomes. A 2017 study published in the Journal of Patient Experience indicated staff-to-patient communication was the primary driver of patient satisfaction. Unsurprisingly, not much has changed in the past decade.
Digital whiteboards that provide patients and clinical teams with real-time information and transparent communication help close the gap between expectations and reality. This technology alleviates stress and anxiety in the ED (for more, see part 2 in this series), and creates a better experience for everyone.
Support Compliance Programs
From infection prevention and fall risk management to hand hygiene compliance and sepsis alerting, solutions such as digital door signs provide real-time patient safety information to the care team.
The technology integrates seamlessly with the EHR and existing patient safety protocols to automatically display appropriate precaution requirements and eliminate the need for manual sign updates. This improves compliance and creates a more efficient workflow for staff.
Drive Operational Excellence
Investing in smart room technology offers several operational benefits beyond improved patient care. It also helps with cost control by automating manual processes and reducing the time staff spend on non-clinical tasks. The use of paper signage is eliminated to reduce waste and supply costs.
Additionally, smart room technology plays a key role in addressing nurse burnout, which is crucial for improving staff retention.
Inform Decision-Making in the ED
Smart room technology provides valuable data that guides strategic planning by helping ED leadership teams analyze usage patterns, patient engagement, and communication effectiveness. This data-driven approach identifies barriers to care, assesses the impact of strategic initiatives at the point of care, and enables more informed decision-making. Ultimately, it drives continuous improvement in care delivery, contributing to both operational excellence and the advancement of key organizational priorities in the ED.
For more on how smart room technology in the ED impacts nurses and patients:
- Read Part 1: Smart Room Tech: Cutting Through Chaos for ED Nurses >
- Read Part 2: Informed Care: A Patient’s Source of Comfort in the Emergency Department >
