Hill Country News: Cedar Park Hospital Offers Patients Top Technology
by Jenn Rains, Hill Country News
In a hospital that boasts a state-of-the-art facility with a great staff and tons of local artwork, the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center (CPRMC) is now offering patients a new technology.
Tigrnet, a new patient education and entertainment system, was installed last week and is experiencing its first week of use at the hospital. The system provides information about the services of the hospital, educational information and videos patients might need, access to the Internet and e-mail, channel listings and the room service menu.
“This is a nice positive distraction for patients,” said Katherine Levine of TeleHealth Services. “There is not a lot in the patient’s control, but this is one thing they have to control,” she said.
With the capabilities of using either a controller or a keyboard, the system is user friendly for those who are technologically savvy and those who need the extra guidance. There is also a “How do I?” tutorial that outlines how the system works and a concierge on site five days a week to help patients, said Levine.
“This is not an additional job to the nursing staff,” said Levine.
With its simple interface and non-intimidating layout, Tigrnet is not a frightening or overcomplicated system to navigate. Levine said it also provides patients with a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week CARE channel which plays relaxing music with nature visuals to help keep patients calm.
While the room service menu currently requires patients to speak with a live operator to order their meals, Levine hopes patients will be able to order through the system in the near future.
For those who want to surf the web or e-mail loved ones, Tigrnet allows that luxury. It even allows one-way e-mail for someone who doesn’t have an e-mail account; that why patients can let someone know where they are and how they are doing.
The direct comment features are also very helpful because they provide a short biography with picture and contact information on hospital personnel. “This creates a more personalized effect and makes people very approachable,” Levine said.
The system is customized for the hospital, and is also unit-specific, so patients in the women’s services department will find information about breastfeeding, childcare and birthing, while medical/surgical patients can get information specific to their needs.
Although this technology can be found at other hospitals across the country, including Northwestern Memorial in Chicago, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Greenwich Hospital, this is the first Tigrnet system in a Texas hospital.
Diane Burke, the hospital’s director of women’s services, said CPRMC wanted to provide the utmost convenience to patients. “Patients are used to this level of technology in their home and we want [them] to have the same things here,” she said.
Burke said she and the hospital just want patients to have all the same amenities they do when they’re at home and not have the feel that they are in a hospital.
“We want nice streamlined education for patients, but it’s always good to have a little entertainment or diversion at the same time,” said Levine.
While the system was just introduced to the hospital at the beginning of the week, Burke said it is already proving to be a hit with patients.
