SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – As the world of technology continues to evolve, modern society is living in an era of smartphones, touch screens, smarter computers, interactive maps and many other gadgets.
These changes have made people rely on technology for different needs that may range from making bank transactions, reading emails to simply entertaining on social media. By incorporating the Interactive Patient Care System (IPC), the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) has decided to make this technology available to its patients, not only for entertainment, but also as an educational tool.
The IPC technology plays a vital role in the patient’s emotional well-being by allowing them to keep in touch with family and friends while also having a broad menu of options for entertainment other than just regular TV as in the old days.
The IPC also offers patients with educational tools that teach them how to maintain good health, better understand their conditions and look up information on how medications interact.
“Patients who use the IPC have better outcomes and are less likely to need readmission to the hospital,” said Leslie Gonzalez, IPC manager, at San Juan VA Medical Center.
According to Gonzalez, patients that use the IPC spend less time at the hospital and have earlier discharge times than those who don’t.
“Studies confirmed that patients that take part in educational programs have a higher chance of achieving a successful recovery,” said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez also said that prior to the IPC era, patients only option of entertainment was a television. Nowadays, it’s a different story since the IPC not only provides TV programming, but also access to the internet and many other features.
“This is a great idea. It helps navigate the web and makes the time here pleasant. It is a different experience; it’s not the same to have so many tools available at once. If your cell phone doesn’t have reception, one can still connect through the IPC,” said Veteran Radames Irizarry, a native of San German, Puerto Rico, and who is hospitalized at the San Juan VA Medical Center.
“Patient satisfaction is the primary goal,” said Gonzalez.
Even though the goal is to create a better environment for the patient, it also helps the institution identify service areas that may require improvement by having real time data provided by the patients after completing two Patient Experience Perception (PEP) surveys a day.
Through the completion of the PEP’s patients have the opportunity of evaluating the service they are receiving from the staff.
“IPC is a tool that helps us connect with our patients in greater ways than ever, and beyond that, it is a tool that empowers our patients to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to taking control of their health and well-being. The patient centered care VHA strives to provide,” said VA Caribbean Healthcare System Director, DeWayne Hamlin.
| Date Taken: | 05.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2015 16:22 |
| Story ID: | 170734 |
| Location: | SAN JUAN, PR |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Technology Serving Veterans: Improves Patient Recovery Times, Hospitalization Experience, by Joseph Rivera Rebolledo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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