一个“神奇的Red Box“

桃子妖妖

A simple roll of duct tape has proven to be an inexpensive solution to the costly and time-consuming problem of communicating with hospital patients who are isolated with dangerous infections.
      A 504-bed Midwestern health system saved up to 2,700 hours and $110,000 a year by creating a “Red Box” safe zone, a three-foot square of red duct tape extending from the threshold of the door, to facilitate communication with patients on isolation or “Contact Precautions,” according to an abstract presented today at the 38th Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
Conducted by the infection prevention team at the Trinity Medical Center in the Quad Cities on the Iowa/Illinois border, the study revealed that by utilizing this safe zone, their hospitals were able to save time, money in unused gowns and gloves, and that the quality and frequency of communication between healthcare professionals (HCP) and isolated patients increased.
     Typically, HCPs must don personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering an isolated patient’s room before any type of communication. Dressing in gowns and gloves before each interaction is time-consuming, costly and creates communication barriers with patients. The study showed that HCPs could safely enter the Red Box area without PPE for quick communication and assessment. At Trinity, approximately 30 percent of interactions with patients on Contact Precautions were performed in the Red Box.
      In a satisfaction survey, 67% of healthcare workers said that the Red Box lessened barriers when communicating with patients. Also, 79.2% reported that the Red Box saved time in not having to put on and remove PPE. The same number said healthcare workers could assess and communicate with patients more easily. The box also serves as an additional visual cue to remind HCPs that they are entering an isolation room, which is usually only indicated by a sign outside the patient’s room.
    “This is an innovative strategy that could be of great value to other hospitals,” said study author Janet Nau Franck, RN, MBA, CIC. “It costs as much as a roll of tape, and yet pays off with significant savings in time, money and increased satisfaction for both patients and staff.”
     “This is a simple but very effective mechanism to conserve resources and yet remain in touch with the patient,” said APIC 2011 President Russell N. Olmsted, MPH, CIC. “It can serve as a model for healthcare providers who strive to deliver better care and reduce costs.”
      读了这篇文摘，强烈地感受：人类真的很聪慧。也很想见识下这个神奇的“Red Box”了。总之，用了这个"Red Box"，我们可以不必穿“PPE”了，为此，我们可以节约用在此方面所花费的时间和穿"PPE"所带来的花费。感觉这个东东真的很好，但想不出它的原理是何？真正在使用之中会是怎样的？。。。？

safihu

看完还是觉得挺抽象：到底是个什么red box就可以达到这样的效果？
a three-foot square of red duct tape extending from the threshold of the door, to facilitate communication with patients on isolation or “Contact Precautions,

桃子妖妖

回复 2# safihu

我想象这个“Red Box”应该是个什么仪器之类，它在医务人员和患者之间起着桥梁、媒介、连接的作用？简单地说：就像古时御医给皇帝看病，不能直接查看、给皇帝把脉一样？不过，如果真的能达到不用穿"PPE"的效果，那我只能惊叹科学---人类的神奇了