Hospital Foundation hoping to bring first-of-its-kind system to new Grande Prairie hospital

The Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation is hoping to bring something called a Bedside Engagement System to the new Grande Prairie hospital.
 
This would be the first hospital in Alberta to have this set-up.
 
The Foundation’s Senior Development Officer Dawn Miller says it allows patients and families access to more information.
 
“It could be a bedside TV, it could be a TV on the wall or a tablet. They also have a speakerphone for those with mobility issues. They’ll be able to go in there (and watch) complete videos that will explain to them about their disease and how they can progress to become better.”
 
She adds the information can cover a variety of things.
 
“Things that they may have to do if they were diagnosed, say, with diabetes. There’s diet change, they can go in and do their menu-planning. They can also watch (fun) videos and (play) other fun games and distraction items like that. They can go in and check what their medication is, how it’s going to affect them, things that they need to do if they want to come off the medication.”
 
Foundation Executive Director Keith Curtis says it would also tie together elements of existing systems that help in patient care and in bridging distances between patients and their families.
 
“The Engagement System gives you access to video conferencing so whether that’s a specialist or doctors, or clinicians that may need to walk you through a certain procedure or just getting in touch (with family). You know, Mom’s in the hospital and Dad’s running the farm. Farming doesn’t quit just because Mom’s in the hospital.”
 
The system would be at installed at all the beds in the new hospital.