What are Never Events?

Never events are a series of medical errors that are defined by CMS as, “clearly identifiable, preventable, and serious in their consequences for patients, and that indicate a real problem in the safety and credibility of a health care facility.” Included in the CMS financial year 2009 list of never events that will be denied federal reimbursement are the following medical errors:

How Dalcon Alert Helps Prevent Pressure Ulcers (Bed Sores)

Obviously, never events can be quite costly for hospitals.  Yet some occur much more frequently than others.  Preventing bed sores can be difficult, but new technology is available to help hospitals prevent bed sores. Dalcon Alert is a system that contains 3 distinct sections that help nurses treat and prevent pressure ulcers.

1. Remote Patient Monitoring
2. Alert Management Software
3. Pressure Ulcer Management System

Dalcon Alert Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote Patient Monitoring is achieved by integrating with existing patient monitoring devices in the hospital.  Dalcon Alert automatically forwards all device alerts—via a text message—to wireless phones carried by the nursing staff.

Although Dalcon Alert contains the technology for nurses to remotely monitor patients via wireless phones, the pressure ulcer management system does not require their use or purchase.  If desired, hospitals can implement Dalcon Alert‘s Alert Management software & Pressure Ulcer Management System as a stand alone system, and use it as a tool to create and manage bed turn alerts using current hospital policy.

Dalcon Alert Alert Management Software

Dalcon Alert’s Alert Management application helps caregivers actively manage the many patient monitoring alerts that are created in the hospital. The Alert Management software is similar to a web application, but it can only be accessed from the browsers of computers on the hospital network.

The function of the Alert Management software is to display, in real time, all active alerts that are being managed by the Dalcon Alert system. Combined with Dalcon Alert’s pressure ulcer management system, Dalcon Alert‘s Alert Management software makes sure no pressure ulcer treatment is overlooked by staff.

Dalcon Alert Pressure Ulcer Management System

Dalcon Alert’s pressure ulcer management system is a unique solution. When this feature is turned on, the system automatically creates a “bed turn” alert that reoccurs after a set period of time (dictated by the hospital).  This “bed turn” alert is treated the same as any other alert that Dalcon Alert manages; relevant caregivers receive the alert on their wireless phone, and the alert is reported on the system’s alert management software.  Thus, caregivers are continually reminded to attend to and turn at risk patients. Because Dalcon Alert helps nurses pro-actively prevent pressure ulcer negligence, the occurrence of dangerous pressure ulcers in at risk patients is significantly reduced.