CINCINNATI, May 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Christ Hospital is expanding patient access to entertainment, communication and service with the introduction of the Skylight ACCESS Interactive Patient System. The easy-to-use system works through the in-room television to provide an exciting array of media options including: movies on-demand; high speed Internet access; games; local and cable television stations; and health education resources. The system also gives patients a new platform to request non-clinical assistance specific to their individual needs. The Christ Hospital is the first hospital in Greater Cincinnati to provide this service developed by Skylight Healthcare Systems(r), a San Diego-based leading provider of interactive patient communication technology.
"Skylight ACCESS allows us to bring more of the comforts of home into the patient room - and build upon them to make each patient's experience both unique and satisfying," said Vic DiPilla, vice president and COO of The Christ Hospital. "This technology and its advanced capabilities are another component to our commitment to service excellence and leadership in healthcare."
The interactive features of Skylight ACCESS include a wealth of information about the hospital, guides to assist patients during their stay and clinical information. Physicians will be able to order programming specific to a patient's treatment and have it sent directly to that patient's TV for viewing at his or her convenience.
The Christ Hospital has implemented fundamental tools with ACCESS, such as Service Alerts and Patient Feedback, which will improve organization efficiencies and enhance patient experiences. Service Alerts allow patients to send automatic requests directly to key members of The Christ Hospital team. For example, patients can send a Service Alert to request additional towels and blankets, to request assistance adjusting temperature of the room, or to schedule a consultation with patient relations. Streamlining these requests should decrease non-clinical inquiries through the nursing call light, allowing nurses to spend more time engaged in patient care at the bedside.
The Patient Feedback in ACCESS gives patients the ability to comment in real-time and be assured their request goes directly to the appropriate person. Patients can answer questions from three key areas of focus about their overall experience. When the questions are submitted, an alert is sent to staff members so concerns can be promptly addressed.
"As the first hospital in Cincinnati with the ACCESS System, The Christ Hospital has set the standard for providing a fully integrative, patient-centered approach to care," said David Schofield, President and CEO of Skylight. "We are pleased to have been selected by them and are proud to provide the technology to drive their initiatives."
About The Christ Hospital
The Christ Hospital is a 555-bed, not-for-profit acute care facility, offering services in cardiovascular care, spine treatment, women's health, major surgery, cancer, behavioral medicine, orthopedics, emergency care, kidney transplant and others. The hospital also offers The Christ Hospital Medical Associates, a primary care physician practice with several office locations throughout the Tristate. The Christ Hospital is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top hospitals, and has been named Cincinnati's Most Preferred Hospital for 13 consecutive years by National Research Corporation (NRC). For more information about The Christ Hospital, visit www.TheChristHospital.com.
About Skylight Healthcare Systems
Skylight Healthcare Systems(r) is the industry pioneer and leader in interactive patient care technology. With patient communication as the cornerstone of a safe, comfortable and clinically optimal hospital experience, the Skylight ACCESS(r) Interactive Patient System encourages patient and family to actively participate in their health care, improves communication between staff and patient/family members, and can provide a smoother and faster recovery and discharge plan. Skylight's vision is to provide hospitals with a robust tool which will allow them to greatly enhance interactive communication along the entire patient care continuum. In nearly 15,000 installed locations, leading hospital administrators have confidently selected Skylight Healthcare Systems as the proven choice for their interactive patient care technology. Skylight Healthcare Systems is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information about Skylight Healthcare Systems, please visit: www.skylight.com.
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