Confidence

Your confidence in Baptist can also depend on what happens away from the bedside. You need to know that above all, we are patient-focused. One simple, but profound, way we are demonstrating that focus is through the physical layout of our facilities. In 2002 when we opened the Hederman Cancer Center, we discovered that cancer patients’ ability to access all the services they needed by walking through one doorway offered more than just convenience. It reduced anxiety and made it easy for them to take advantage of every program we provide for their treatment and quality of life.

Because of that, Baptist will soon offer single-entry access for patients undergoing cardiovascular care, and for women who are giving birth at Baptist. The entire design of Baptist’s new multi-story addition was built around this goal.

The patient-focus continues behind the scenes, as well. To promote safety and efficiency with medications, each patient’s armband contains a barcode that identifies precise drug information, including what drugs should be given, what dosages, and when they should be administered. The nurse at the bedside scans each patient’s armband before administering medications. This is automatically entered into an electronic medical record, which reduces the possibility of errors due to illegible writing. The electronic medical record will also be enhanced as physicians on staff at Baptist have growing ability to use a computerized system to write orders for the care of their patients.

In surgery, physicians can perform complex surgeries—such as complete removal of the prostate gland—through tiny incisions. These minimally invasive procedures, using the da Vinci surgical system, mean that patients typically recover more quickly with fewer complications.

Additionally, Surgical Services uses software that provides real-time patient location information patients' families. Each surgical patient is given a tracking badge with an assigned number that is attached to his IV or gown. Sensors in the ceiling track where the patient is in the surgical process. Large plasma computer screens installed throughout the surgical unit and waiting areas display location information by patient tracking number. A patient can give his tracking number to a loved one who can then locate the number on the screen to know where the patient is at all times during the surgical process.

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