NHS's National Rehabilitation Centre Introduces Smart Bedside Screens Integrated with Airwave Technology
The NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in the UK is set to revolutionise patient care with the deployment of iPad-based intelligent bedside terminals. Operated and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, the centre is scheduled to open later this year [1].
These intelligent bedside terminals are integrated with building management and care systems, allowing patients to control their room environment (lighting, blinds, heating) directly from their bedside. This feature is designed to help maintain independence during recovery from serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries [1].
Patients will also be able to video call friends and loved ones, order meals, and access personalised diaries with schedules and care activities directly from the terminals. This is made possible through an enhanced version of the MyCareTV service [1].
Airwave Healthcare has been chosen to equip the bedrooms at the new centre with these intelligent bedside terminals. The company considers it a privilege to support the NRC, which they view as a strong example of excellence in rehabilitation transformation [1].
Dean Moody, healthcare services director at Airwave Healthcare, stated that investment in technology to stimulate and engage patients in their care is important for enhancing recovery [1]. Electronic patient record integration will provide patients with live access to information about their rehabilitation, including discharge date, medications, diet, care teams, and other relevant insights [1].
Moody also expressed Airwave Healthcare's commitment to working with healthcare professionals to understand changing needs and innovate in response throughout their agreement with the NRC [1]. The new NRC will deploy technology to aid patients in maintaining independence during recovery from life-changing injuries and illnesses.
Several healthcare facilities have already implemented similar smart patient care technologies to enhance patient care and rehabilitation. For instance, Yeezen Hospital has implemented intelligent ePaper bedside cards, while St. Olavs Hospital uses bedside patient terminals as part of a unified communication platform [2][3]. Atrium Health Stanly, a rural hospital in North Carolina, has launched a virtual nursing program with high-resolution two-way audio/video cameras in patient rooms [5].
These examples illustrate a trend of diverse intelligent bedside technologies being adopted by healthcare facilities internationally to improve patient engagement, real-time communication, rehabilitation, and clinical decision-making [1][2][3][5]. The deployments at the NRC and other facilities collectively highlight the evolving role of bedside digital systems in patient care and rehabilitation.
References:
[1] Airwave Healthcare. (n.d.). NHS National Rehabilitation Centre to Deploy Intelligent Bedside Terminals. Retrieved from https://www.airwavehealthcare.com/news/nhs-national-rehabilitation-centre-to-deploy-intelligent-bedside-terminals/
[2] Yeezen Hospital. (n.d.). Intelligent ePaper Bedside Cards. Retrieved from https://www.yeezen.com/products/intelligent-epaper-bedside-cards
[3] St. Olavs Hospital. (n.d.). Bedside Patient Terminals. Retrieved from https://www.st-olav.no/en/patients-and-visitors/bedside-patient-terminals/
[5] Atrium Health Stanly. (n.d.). Virtual Nursing Program. Retrieved from https://www.atriumhealth.org/locations/stanly-regional-medical-center/services/virtual-nursing-program
The NHS National Rehabilitation Centre's deployment of intelligent bedside terminals marks a significant stride in the integration of technology in health-and-wellness, as patients will have access to digital health tools for managing their room environment, video calling, meal orders, and personalized care schedules. Furthermore, the technology aids in enhancing fitness-and-exercise by providing personalized rehabilitation information and engaging patients throughout their recovery process.
