Some aspects of the healthcare industry are now being revolutionized by alarm notification technology. Specifically, systems designed to communicate different types of alarms to the appropriate personnel in an emergency are gaining in popularity. In such a delicate setting, with lives on the line, these upgrades are making a positive difference in patient care.

Alarm notification software companies like WIN-911 and Micromedia International are doing their part to improve hospital response times and decrease staff confusion when dealing with an emergency. This type of alarm notification software recently helped Saint Michel, a hospital and nursing home located in France, to reach and maintain the accreditation standards necessary to assure its patients receive quality care. When Saint Michel installed ALERT, Micromedia’s alarm notification software, the hospital’s response times quickly improved, with the system able to monitor and record individual employee performance. If an employee’s response time drops below acceptable standards, the system alerts hospital management to take corrective action.

Not only does the alarm notification system help monitor patient care, it also effectively acts as both a fire and technical alarm. ALERT triggers and sends out technical alarms when either of two events occur; whenever oxygen tanks in the supply room need to be exchanged or when patient elevators are out of order. Having these two technical aspects of the hospital incorporated into an alarm system saves hospital staff both time and guesswork. Staff no longer have to waste time stopping to check the levels of the tanks and, if an elevator breaks down, the software automatically alerts staff members to the malfunction.

When hospitals switch from legacy systems to newer alarm notification systems, they also upgrade to other newer technologies as well. For example, most hospitals end up trading in their old pagers for smartphones that can transcribe more complete and informative alarm messages. The integration of these up-to-date technologies is critical for healthcare facilities so that they can better respond to the needs of their patients and continue to provide the best care possible.