Guthrie, a Pennsylvania and New York-based integrated health system, won the 2015 Spok Innovation Award for developing solutions to enhance patient satisfaction.
Here are five highlights:
1. Guthrie delivered periodic updates to patients' families during long surgical procedures through a secure texting app, Spok Mobile.
2. Sayre, Pa.-based Guthrie Robert Pack Hospital's operating room nurses send family members updates concerning the patient's care and progress.
3. Family members can also load games and social media apps to pass the time.
4. Patient and family feedback has been positive, leading Guthrie to look to roll the program out to other areas of the hospital.
5. Spok presented the Guthrie the award during Connect 15, Spok's annual conference, in Nashville.
More articles on quality & infection control:
Military medical centers offering transparency about medical errors in new program: 5 key points
Drs. Mark Graber, Hardeep Singh call for action against misdiagnosing: 4 observations
University of Utah creates virtual program to improve healthcare: 4 things to know
