How BeagleBoxx transforms the patient experience at Zuyderland Medical Center

The client

Zuyderland Medical Center (Zuyderland Medisch Centrum) is a healthcare provider with two hospitals across two different locations in the south of the Netherlands with nearly 1000 beds.

42.000

Submissions per year

845.000

Visits to outpatient clinics per year

170.000

Nursing days per year

86.000

Day-care admissions per year

Challenge

Zuyderland initiated a tender process to replace their Siemens HIMED bedside terminals at their Sittard-Geleen location, as the HIMED environment within the Zuyderland was outdated, and an increasing number of its functionalities were becoming obsolete. The Sittard-Geleen location of the Zyderland Medisch Centrum was looking for a future-proof, modern solution that included patient mobility. Crucially, the solution also had to be relatively easy to implement. And where possible, the new solution should increase the efficiency and effectiveness of in-hospital processes.

Solution

BeagleBoxx, a Brightfish solution, was selected to take up the challenge. BeagleBoxx’s mission is to increase patients’ well-being while improving efficiency & effectiveness for both the patient and the care provider. In short, making the best possible patient experience a reality.

Bedside

BeagleBoxx offered Zuyderland a fully managed iPad, all-inclusive lease, solution that consisted out of:

Managed iPads with the BeagleBoxx patient application.
A fully integrated Mobile Device Management solution (Jamf)
New bedside, wall-mounted iPads
Specific iPad mounts allowing former HIMAD bedside placements to be reused

The following modules were included in the BeagleBoxx app:

Patient entertainment including live TV, hospital broadcasting and games
Ward-specific Information
Room automation (lights, temperature, blinds, door)
Internet access, video calling and notification system
Integrated meal ordering, with connectivity to the hospital ordering systems
Secure connectivity to hospital EHR and hospital information systems

To improve the patient experience even more, Brightfish also included:

Screen protection – to prevent reflection of light in the room
Cardboard iPad holders that meant patients could use iPads hands-free, out of bed
A caching server to minimise data consumption per iPad over the internet with updates of iOS and the apps installed
Silicone covers (in the house style colour of the hospital) and patient headsets

Impact

The Brightfish team rolled out 500+ iPads in one location in 2 months and trained 400 staff members by getting them hands-on with the iPad mobile service. This approach has proven to be very successful. It fostered awareness of what would change in their immediate environment and supported a much improved overall patient experience.

BeagleBoxx

Re-use to save costs

The solution was not to take away the arm on which the HIMEDS were installed, but instead, refurbish them with a new iPad mount—this saved time and money. It meant not having to move patients out of their rooms, open ceilings, or disassemble the entire arm. Not removing the Himed arms, saved around €500 per arm. Considering there were close to 400 of these arms, this offered Zuyderland a significant opportunity to save costs.

Preventing spillage and saving time

Zuyderland also had the ambition to save on the spillage of food and unburden service staff. The idea was to get the majority of patients to use the meal ordering functionality. Since the introduction of Beagleboxx, 60% of patients now order meals through the meal ordering module in the app. This increased the efficiency for staff, offered an improved sense of empowerment to patients, and improved the accuracy of the catering and food ordering process.

Our cooperation with BeagleBoxx throughout the project and in our day-to-day operations, is high-touch, considerate, involved, focused and patient-centred – a real partnership. They are always thinking with us, while sharing their extensive experience with us.
Jacques van Kerkvoort (Project Manager Zuyderland Mc)