The role of physical design and informal communication

2. Hill-Rom Nurse Communication System
This system incorporates locating technology and room-to-room
communication. Use of wearable locator badges allows nurses to locate one another
either from the home screen (located at the nurse’s station) or from each patient room.
Wall –mounted call buttons in patient rooms and at the nurse’s station allow nurses to
verbally communicate from room to room and from room to nurse’s station.
Focused interview revealed that nurses view this technology as potentially
valuable, yet the system is infrequently used. Nurses attribute the low use to a lack of
sufficient training when the system was implemented. One nurse also hypothesized
that the older, more experienced nurses may be reluctant to use the new technology.
They concluded that more staff need to use the system in order for it to be an effective
communication tool.
3. Patient Status Light System
This system consists of three colored light fixtures located outside of each
patient room. In double-bed rooms, a red light corresponds to the patient closest to the
door; a white light corresponds to the patient next to the window.
• Red or white light: activated by the patient if he/she needs assistance
• Blinking red or white light: activated when a patient has tried to get out of bed
(bed-exit alarm)
• Blinking red and white light: activated by a patient in the bathroom
• Green light: activated when a nurse wearing a locator badge enters the room
4. Medications
Located in the medication room, the Pyxis MedStation is a large computerized
station compartmentalized with many drawers containing medications. It uses
automated medication management technology to facilitate communication between
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