Wireless nurse call specialist, CourtneyThorne, has developed its HTM08-03 compliant Altra nurse call system with the addition of new accessories, a new software architecture, and a three-year warranty as standard.
Designed specifically for hospital environments, the Altra Health range is claimed to offer ‘unparalleled wireless reliability’, utilising the dedicated European 869.2 MHz social alarms frequency to avoid any risk of interference, along with ‘listen before talk’ anti-collision technology and call acknowledgement to underpin call integrity.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sensors enable full connectivity without using any of the hospital’s administrative bandwidth thanks to a dedicated internal Wi-Fi network. The system can be integrated with DECT telephone systems to enable alerts to be answered by interdisciplinary nursing and clinical teams anywhere in the building; further integration capabilities with Android and iOS devices are under development.
MD, Graham Vickrage, said: “Our inhouse software development team has created an entirely new architecture not available for any other nurse call range. The system has been designed to provide complete peace of mind and accountability for users, while offering cost savings of up to 40 per cent when compared with hard-wired systems, backed by a three-year warranty.”
Wireless installation is ‘fast and simple’, the system can be programmed and reprogrammed remotely to meet changing needs, and all calls are displayed on the ‘Altra Touch’ touchscreen unit – which also collects call data, response times, and call duration information to aid with management and planning of staffing levels, and enables detailed reports to be generated.
A new ‘Altra MiniTouch’ unit offers a smaller, wall-mountable touchscreen display that can be located in communal areas to provide call alerts and location information for staff without them having to return to the nurses’ station.
A number of features address issues of wandering and patient falls, and ‘provide discreet wireless solutions for dementia, geriatric, paediatric, and mental healthcare environments’. In addition to traditional call buttons (Altra Call), pull cords (Altra Pull), and bathroom/toilet pull cords (Altra Assist), the range will also include wireless pressure mats and floor sensors, along with ‘Altra Guard’ door sensors and an ‘Altra Wear’ pendant that can be worn on patients’ wrists or on a lanyard around their neck, giving them access to a call button when away from their bed.
The wireless Altra Wear pendant also automatically alerts staff in the event of a fall; it uses multiple sensors, and a digital microphone, to detect a fall and send a location signal to the Altra Touch unit so help can arrive quickly, even if the patient is unable to raise the alarm.
The wireless Altra Wear pendant also automatically alerts staff in the event of a fall; it uses multiple sensors, and a digital microphone, to detect a fall and send a location signal to the Altra Touch unit so help can arrive quickly, even if the patient is unable to raise the alarm.
