FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Family members and friends can now follow their patient's progress through surgery from start to finish on a large-screen display located in the Surgical Services waiting room at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital.
With Remote Surgical Tracking (REST), family and friends can even use REST Assured! online, as they follow the progress of their loved one through all six stages of surgery using a computer or smart phone to click a link located on the hospital website at http://glwach.amedd.army.mil.
"As a mom, I know I would be glued to the screen if my child was in surgery," said Maj. Susan Keegan, clinical nurse officer in charge of the GLWACH Operating Room. "This system allows friends and family to know when their loved one goes from pre-op, to surgery, to recovery, and lets them know when they're ready to be picked up to go home."
To protect patient right to privacy, a unique patient identification number is provided only to the patient during check-in. The ID number is displayed on the system's waiting room screen in place of the patient's name. ID numbers of all surgical patients and their current stage of progression through the surgery process are displayed.
When logged in, only the status of the patient to whom the ID number corresponds is visible. A timestamp appears in a box which turns green as each patient enters a new stage from check-in to discharge.
"I'm excited and very proud to be part of the caring and diverse team that came together so well to make this happen so quickly," Keegan said. "It only took about four months to go from concept to reality."
The surgical services patient tracking system concept originated with Keegan.
"When I first thought about developing a way for us to make this happen, I took the idea to my boss and we sat down with our computer folks and began brainstorming to develop the system we have today," Keegan said. "This is the only Army Military Treatment Facility with this type of service that we are aware of."
The surgical services patient tracking system went into full operation at GLWACH Nov. 5 and is available to all surgical patients and those to whom the patient authorizes access.
(Editor's note: John Brooks is the marketing and public affairs officer at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital)
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