NEWS RELEASE
July 21, 2008

HILLCREST BECOMES FIRST IN NATION TO INSTALL HIGH-TECH PATIENT RESPIRATORY MONITORS

Hillcrest HealthCare is breaking new ground as the first senior care facility in the nation to install the latest, state-of-the-art patient monitoring system in its respiratory unit.

The Masimo Patient SafetyNet™ system is designed to measure patient vital signs such as pulse rate and oxygen flow and can notify staff automatically in the event of any changes.

Carolyn Pointer (left), Hillcrest president and CEO, observes the Masimo patient monitors via computer along with respiratory technician Susan Weaver. The system allows remote monitoring of respiratory patients at Hillcrest.

Hillcrest recently installed the system at the East Tennessee Respiratory Center at Hillcrest North. Carolyn Pointer, president and CEO of Hillcrest HealthCare, said the system has proven itself almost immediately. “In a clinical setting, it’s hard to adequately monitor patients and still maintain their privacy,” she said. “This technology gives us another way to literally remain connected with our patients and be able to respond to their needs at a moment’s notice.”

The notification system uses wireless technology. Changes in a patient’s condition can trigger an alarm, which is then transmitted to pagers carried by clinical staff.

Pointer said the facility has noticed a reduction in false alarms caused by inaccurate readings by 60 percent and a marked reduction in hospital readmissions and acute care transfers.

Hillcrest installed the system at the recommendation of Respiratory Support Services, Hillcrest’s respiratory care provider. “Evidence of SafetyNet’s effect on patient care and safety is undeniable,” said Gene Gantt, chief executive officer of Respiratory Support Services.

Gantt said the company felt so strongly about the new technology, they agreed to provide funding to Hillcrest for the system.

Until now, the SafetyNet system had been used only in hospitals. “This installation illustrates the impact and value of Masimo Patient SafetyNet beyond the hospital setting,” said Rick Fishel, president of Masimo Americas. “Hillcrest North and Respiratory Support Services are pioneering this technology in long-term care facilities. We applaud their vision, leadership and commitment to making a difference in the care of patients.”

Pointer said Hillcrest is exploring the potential uses of the system for its other facilities in Knox County.

Hillcrest HealthCare, a not-for-profit organization, is the largest skilled and long-term care system for seniors and the disabled in Knoxville. Founded in 1960, it currently operates 560 long-term care and 28 assisted living beds on three campuses in Knox County.

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