Connexall User Group Meeting Illustrates Customer Innovation, Cost Savings

Toronto, Canada – Connexall’s first User Group Meeting was held on September 30, 2009.  Over 80 participants attended the conference, and presentations from five Connexall sites discussed the unique advantages that Connexall provides to the complex needs of healthcare organizations.  Since many User Group members come from healthcare organizations, the conference presented multiple opportunities to discuss implementing many different technologies and devices at hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Connexall User Group members discussed their common challenges and shared examples of how the power of information immediacy has transformed their organization, resulting in improved efficiency, cost savings, and better staff performance. Ultimately, all of these improvements mean that staff have more time to spend with patients, existing technology is used more effectively, and budgets are allocated more appropriately.  Some noteworthy stories from Connexall users include:

- At Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (HHSC), Connexall’s role in a switchboard consolidation contributed to a cost savings of $450,000 per year.  Efficiency was so improved that nearly 12 full-time positions could be re-allocated to other areas of hospital administration. Centralizing switchboard administration for six unique hospitals and a cancer center “has allowed HHSC to centralize services, redefine and improve processes, provide consistent service across the entire organization as well as reduce operating costs,” notes Brenda Barton Supervisor, Telecommunications, HHS

- At Trillium Health Centre, a new wing including staff wireless phones integrated by Connexall has staff exclaiming, ”I can think and concentrate on what I’m doing - my documentation has improved. I can look up lab results easily - I’m not as tired!” Patients enjoy an environment more conducive to healing and many even admit “I don’t want to go home”.

- At York Central Hospital, Emergency Room staff saw a 24% increase in volume over the last 18 months. Although a recent expansion in space has the potential to serve more patients, it also meant that staff were walking great distances to communicate, complete routine check-ins, and confirm requests. One nurse with a pedometer personally walked 13.2 km in a single shift! By using Connexall to integrate patient monitoring equipment, ventilators, and wireless phones, staff can confirm lab work requests, monitor patient status, and respond faster to true emergencies.

- At St-Jérôme Centre for Health and Social Services in Quebec, Canada, Connexall integration transformed an aging mental health facility with technology that increases staff and patient safety.  Combined with third-party location-based services, Connexall tracks patient and staff location and movement via personal wireless badges and tags.  Staff can respond to emergencies and alerts faster and ensure patient safety by taking advantage of automatic alerts and notifications – this helps reduce the number of incidents that result in aggression towards caregivers.  St-Jérôme staff perform better with increased security, improved safety, and reduced stress.

Stay tuned for information on where and when the next Connexall User Group meeting will be happening.