What originally began as a project to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic has now provided a major restructuring for SMC’s Telemetry/MedSurg Unit.
“The project allowed an upgrade to our telemetry system,” said Chief Nursing Officer Ekene Ejimofor, DNP, MHM, RN. “The departments previously known as 2 North and 3 North were merged into one unit now known as Tele/MedSurg. The entire unit is equipped for telemetry.”
Each patient who needs telemetry monitoring — the process of continuously monitoring a person’s vital signs and cardiac rhythms remotely — wears a Telepak. The Telepak allows nurses to read the patient’s vitals immediately.
“It’s very helpful to the nurses,” said Director of Tele/MedSurg and ICU Kirsten Maritim, MS, BSN, RN. “The nurses can see real-time heart rhythms on the patient’s Telepak, can admit and discharge patients, and adjust alarm levels right on the device.”
Since the Telepak is portable, the patient is able to move about freely.
“This means they don’t have to call a nurse and wait to be unhooked if they need to get up and are able to get up,” said Maritim.
The device also allows a patient to be monitored continuously even if they need to travel off the unit for diagnostic tests.
“If a patient needs to travel to radiology, the Telepak travels with them so they are constantly monitored,” Ejimofor said. “There are also two new telemetry workstations on the second and third floors.”
The new equipment is another step forward in SMC’s commitment to providing safe, quality care to patients.
“I’m very proud that we continue to grow our services in order to provide the best care for SMC patients,” said Dr. Tammy Torres, CEO.