Hospital Televisions...more than just TV
Posted on Tue, May 10, 2011
Many of today's healthcare forums are all abuzz with the idea of patient satisfaction. There are, of course, a multitude of factors that play into the satisfaction of patients during hospitals stays. One component of patient satisfaction is making the patient (and visitors) comfortable. Hospital rooms have transformed over the years to make patients more comfortable - nicer beds, attractive fixtures, private rooms, home-like decorating...the list goes on. Among these comforts is the patient television. Given the fact that 97% of consumers have televisions in their homes, it is natural that televisions will be utilized in patient rooms.
The patient television is a valuable piece of real estate. Patients are most often restricted to stay in bed, which means the majority of their time will be spent sleeping or watching television. Why not use the TV as a teaching device, marketing vehicle or source of distracting entertainment?
With today's technology, patient televisions can do so much more than what was done in the past. Hospital televisions can be connected to a server and deliver videos on demand. That means multiple patients can watch the same movie at the same time. (Imagine Shrek on 50 televisions, entertaining children all over the hospital at the same time.) No DVD or DVD player required. Just a server, some cables, and a hospital IPTV (internet protocol television). (Side note: IPTV means the televisions have ethernet ports and can be networked to a server.)
The TV not only entertains patients, it can educate them, too. Why not offer educational videos on demand? (Imagine new moms be able to watch lactation videos anytime during the hospital stay.) Libraries of content can be made available to patients. Having access to more information, especially in today's world of instant information, is another comfort of home patients can experience while in the hospital.
It doesn't stop with videos on demand. Patients browse the internet, send e-mail, play games, and listen to music all from the television in their room. It's all made possible with technology like IPTV.
Learn more about IPTV and how it is used in hospitals.