Prisma Health is making a significant investment of $41 million to revolutionize the patient experience across its health system by deploying the latest smart bed technology. This initiative aims to support the care team and enhance patient care by replacing outdated inpatient beds with 1,500 state-of-the-art Hillrom smart beds and surfaces.
The new beds feature Hercules patient repositioning technology, enabling a single caregiver to reposition a patient safely and comfortably in bed in less than ten seconds. This high-tech design benefits nurses and other team members, particularly in critical areas such as intensive care units (ICU), labor and delivery, medical/surgical units, and bariatrics, by facilitating specialized individual patient care.
Mark O’Halla, president and CEO of Prisma Health, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “This investment underscores our commitment to placing patient safety and satisfaction at the center of everything we do. Incorporating the cutting-edge technology of these beds will streamline clinical workflows and reduce manual tasks, significantly reducing the risk of injury to both caregivers and patients and enabling our team members to provide more efficient, accurate, and compassionate care to improve patient outcomes.”
Key innovative features of the new smart beds include:
- New birthing beds: Prioritize safety, comfort, and convenience for the mother, baby, and caregivers throughout the labor and delivery experience.
- Bariatric beds: Enable safe, efficient, and dignified transport of patients.
- Intensive care beds: Equipped with the latest technology to care for the highest-need patients.
- Status indicators: Easy-to-read, colored projections under the bed onto the floor indicate the status of the bed alarm, bed position, and side rails, all viewable from the hall.
- Powered transport: Allows a single caregiver to easily and safely transport the bed with precise stopping and turning controls and a built-in fifth wheel to aid portability.
- Patient amenities: Include a built-in USB port for personal devices, a storage area for personal belongings, illuminated side rails, and an under-bed light.
The rollout of Prisma Health’s new fleet of smart beds is currently underway, with completion expected by mid-September 2024. This initiative is expected to optimize safety and satisfaction through advanced technology for fall prevention, pressure injury reduction, increased comfort, and improved communication — all critical factors contributing to quality outcomes.
For more information about Prisma Health and its services, visit Prisma Health’s website.
