New hospital brings the latest in healthcare technology to the community
GARNETT, Kan. (Dec. 15, 2014) — In only a few weeks, on Thursday, Jan. 29, the new Anderson County Hospital will open and patients will have access to the latest innovations in health care technology.
The new technology will enhance patient care in many ways from the moment a patient walks in the door. The new hospital features whiteboard technology, which allows registration staff to electronically notify the specialty clinic, rehabilitation services, lab, and radiology departments when their patients arrive and tracks how long they have been waiting. Patient flow is greatly improved through this new technology resulting in shorter wait times, greater staff efficiencies, and an enhanced patient experience.
The new Anderson County Hospital boasts a centralized telemetry system for patients requiring heart monitoring. The system monitors heart rate and rhythm, collecting real-time data for nurses to keep the physician informed of the patient’s progress. Patients will receive continuous monitoring by hospital nursing staff and also remotely by a trained technician at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City. The new system illustrates the commitment to quality patient care at Anderson County Hospital and throughout Saint Luke’s Health System.
The new Residential Living Center will be a quieter environment with the installation of a wireless call-light system, which notifies staff that a resident requires assistance by lighting up a panel at the nurse’s station and outside the resident’s door. The panel is so advanced that it can even identify the urgency of the alert. Staff will carry phones that will alert them of the need to respond to a resident’s room. The call system is able to track staff response times and allows the care team to work together to continually to look for efficiencies in care delivery and ensure resident satisfaction.
According to Mary Gedrose, RLC director, “The new technology promotes more efficient communication between residents and staff, and will allow us to continue to set a high bar for quality when it comes to resident care.”
New technology for the radiology department includes a CT scanner allowing for faster scanning of images, providing greater versatility. New computed tomography angiography (CTA) technology will allow images of arteries and vessels to be captured for a limited angiography with 3-D reconstruction. This CTA technology will allow the hospital to provide a new service that is less invasive than traditional angiograms. The department also will be acquiring a new nuclear medicine camera, providing physicians with more detailed images that can pinpoint molecular activity within specific organs and other soft tissue.
Patients at Anderson County Hospital will appreciate the full array of services available on-site, including MRI, digital mammography, ultrasound, cardioscans, bone density tests, and more. They also will benefit from the picture archiving communication system (PACS), which allow physicians from other Saint Luke’s facilities to easily view current and past images of patients anywhere throughout Saint Luke’s Health System, thus providing patients with the best continuum of care. According to Mona Blevins, radiology manager, “Patients will appreciate having fewer trips to the city with the new technology available right here.”
To find out more about out-patient services at Anderson County Hospital visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org.
Anderson County Hospital is a member of Saint Luke’s Health System, which consists of 10 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.